European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN HEMATOLOGY UNIT OF UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOSPITAL: A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

*Bagbi B. M. and Onyegbule C. L.

ABSTRACT

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an important public health problem in Nigeria and about 2% of all newborn are born with the disease. The treatment of the symptoms of SCD includes adequate hydration, blood transfusion and use of analgesics, antibiotics, and anti-malarial drugs. Globally, drugs accounts for about 60% of non-personnel cost of healthcare and about 50% of medications are presumed to be inappropriately prescribed dispensed or sold. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the drug utilization pattern in the management of SCD patients in the hematology unit of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Rivers State, South-south Nigeria; and to assess conformity to World Health Organization (WHO) standards and specification. Method: A cross-sectional retrospective approach was adopted for the study which involves the review of 101 case notes of sickle cell disease patients seen in the hematology unit of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State from January 2013 to December 2017. Administrative approval for the study was obtained from the Facility’s Management. Data were collected from case notes of patients and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result: An average of 4.3 drugs per prescription was prescribed. The percentage of drugs prescribed as generic was 68.5% while the percentage of drugs prescribed on the Essential Drug List (EDL) was 93.2%. Analysis of the prescriptions showed that 24.7%, 20.2% and 15.5% of the drugs were Vitamins with micronutrients, Analgesics and Anti-malarials respectively. While 34.3% of the total prescriptions contained one or more antibiotics and 31.4% having one or more injections. There were more females than males among the sickle cell disease patients and most of the patients (39.6%) were within the age of 21-30. Conclusion: Drug utilization pattern in sickle cell disease patients in the facility reasonably conform to standard, However, strict adherence to WHO/International Network on Rational Drug Use standard and core prescribing indicators would optimize patient management and therapeutic outcome.

Keywords: Drug utilization pattern, sickle cell disease.