A Study on Prescription Pattern of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) in Osteoarthritis Patients at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a progressive musculoskeletal disorder characterized by the gradual loss of cartilage in joints which results in bones rubbing together and creating stiffness and pain. The present study aimed at the evaluation of prescription patterns of NSAIDS in Osteoarthritis patients using WHO prescribing indicators. It is an Observational Study which is carried out using 100 patients for 12 months period in the Orthopedic Department of The Oxford Medical College and Research Centre. Patients who are above 18 years of age male and female who visited and were admitted to the Orthopedics department was included. In this study total number of drugs from 100 prescriptions was 392. The percentage of encounters with NSAIDS is found to be 36.4 %. The percentage of drugs prescribed by Generic name is 3.83 % and the Percentage of drugs from NLEM is 20.66% Diclofenac is more prescribed by NLEM. Preferential COX-2 Inhibitors were more preferred over Nonselective COX inhibitors. The study revealed that polypharmacy and prescription writing using brand names were common. Prescription writing in the generic name needs to be promoted and the study suggests that there is immense scope of improvement in prescribing and dispensing to achieve standards of rational prescribing.