A STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF DRUGS BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN A RURAL AREA OF TAMILNADU.

Abstract

Evaluation of the drug utilisation has become a onetime potential tool to assess appropriateness of drug therapy. General Practitioners are more easily approachable doctors by the society. So this study planned to assess quantitative type of prescription pattern by general practitioners in identifying commonly utilized drugs by the rural and sub urban population in Tamilnadu. 600 Sample of prescriptions were collected and analysed. Most Common diagnoses were Upper respiratory tract infection (19.67%), followed by acid peptic disease (12.29%) and lower respiratory tract infection (12.29%).  Maximum number of drugs prescribed to a patient in the study was 7 while minimum number of drugs per prescription was 3. At least one antimicrobial agent is prescribed in 78% of prescriptions studied. At least one Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was prescribed in 65% of prescriptions. Only 5.33% of drugs were prescribed in generic names. At least one drug was prescribed in Parenteral route of administration in 52% of the prescription and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the most commonly prescribed drugs by parenteral route. Paracetamol and expectorant syrup were the most frequently prescribed tablet and syrup respectively.