Abstract

AIM: Appropriate utilization of medicines is essential for the patient, health institutions and health care workers. The prescribing practices influences utilization of medicines. The aim of this review is to present the prescribing practices in a Nigerian military hospital for comparison with national and international reports.
METHOD: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the general out patient department of a Nigerian military hospital between January and March 2007. It consisted of an evaluation of core prescribing, patient care and facility indicators using World Health Organisation criteria and knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study of prescribers on the concept of rational use of medicines.
RESULTS: Out of a sample of 240 case notes studied, the mean number of medicines prescribed per patient was lower (2.2) than the national value (3.8); but the rate of generic prescribing was poor (39.4%). Only 50.0% of prescribed drugs were actually dispensed with 2.3% of the dispensed drugs being well labelled. From the KAP study, 77.4% of prescribers/dispensers owned a copy of the essential medicines list but only one correctly gave the steps to rational prescribing; few (40.0%) could give at least 2 correct steps.
CONCLUSION: This study of a Nigerian military hospital shows that the prescribing practices are characterised by low rate of generic prescription, actual dispensing of medicines and a very low rate of labelling dispensed medicines. There is need to improve prescribing practice in Nigeria and other developing countries by improving access to essential medicines to ensure affordable health care.

Key words: Rational Medicines, Patient Care, Health Facility, Nigeria

Article Language: Turkish English