Prescription pattern in asthma therapy at Gorakhpur hospitals

OBJECTIVES: This prescription-monitoring study was conducted to establish the drug-prescribing trend of anti-asthmatic drugs in various hospitals of Gorakhpur. SETTING: The study covered three famous hospitals of Gorakhpur. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hundred patients were studied using a prescription auditing performa. Data was recorded from the patient's attending the out patient department using a chance random sample method for two months. Patients who co- operated were interviewed and information was filled in the performa. RESULTS: The results suggested that b-agonist (40%) were the most frequently prescribed anti-asthmatic drugs followed by Methylxanthine (27%), corticosteroids (25%), leukotriene antagonist (4.4%) and anti-histaminics (3.6%) was the least prescribed. Analysis of prescription revealed that multiple drug therapy (81%) was opted for a significant number of patients as compared to single drug therapy (19%). Contrary to popular belief, oral dosage form tablets (56.3%) were preferred over inhalation (33.8%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the present prescribing pattern of anti-asthmatics in Gorakhpur does not completely meet standard guidelines of asthma treatment. Hence there is a need to encourage physicians of Gorakhpur to follow the guidelines while treating asthma.