Drugs use practices in northern Uganda hospitals: a case study of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital
Loading...
Date
2012-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University.College of Health Science
Abstract
Background: Irrational use of medicines is a maJor problem worldwide. Studies
conducted in several countries, including Uganda, indicate that more than 50% of all
medicines used globally are used irrationally. Irrational use of medicines results in
increased risk of adverse reactions, wastage of the scarce resources, and development of
preventable resistance of organisms to commonly used antibiotics. To be able design
appropriate interventions, there is need to carry out drug use studies and this was one of
such studies but which targeted Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda.
Objective: To determine and document drug use practices in Gulu Regional Referral
Hospital.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional case study involving eight hundreds (800)
prescriptions, 44 staff respondents and 50 patients, and review of Health Sector
Strategic Plan indicator medicines in the stores by simple random sampling. The study
was based on the prescribing, patient care and health facility indicators as stipulated by
WHO, as well as evaluation of use of herbal drugs.
Results: The study established that a high number of drugs and antibiotics were being
prescribed, consultation and dispensing times were very low, drug labeling was
inadequate and there were insufficient prescribers and qualified dispensers. The study
also found out that the percentage of prescribed drugs actually dispensed was fairly
good, and most prescriptions were from the Essential Drugs List and by generic names.
However prescription of injections was slightly above the recommended standards
although most of the patients had reasonable knowledge of drug dosages.
Description
Dissertation summited to The School of Pharmacy in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a bachelor degree of Pharmacy of Kampala International University, Uganda
Keywords
Drugs, Practices, Northern, Hospitals