An Analysis of Prescription Patterns of Topical Corticosteroids in Dermatology OPD of A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital In Western Maharashtra
Abstract
Background: Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of many dermatological conditions. The study was planned to monitor and analyze the pattern of prescribing topical corticosteroids among outpatients attending dermatology clinics in a rural tertiary care and teaching hospital. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the dermatology department of a tertiary care teaching Hospital over a period of 4 months. A total of 350 (Three hundred and fifty) random prescriptions were studied from patients attending skin OPD. Out of these, prescriptions containing topical corticosteroids were identified and considered for the study. The data were collected prospectively by direct observation in a specially designed pro forma containing relevant detail such as demographic, disease, and drug data. Results: A total of 169 (48.3%) of randomly studied 350 prescriptions contained a topical corticosteroid, with Mometasone furoate (34%) and Betamethasone valerate (33%) being the most commonly prescribed. Further, a majority of the topical corticosteroids prescribed were of low potency (47%) followed by highly potent (33%) and ultra-high potent (20%) drugs. 39 % of the topical steroids were given in a fixed dose combination with salicylic acid being the most common combination drug. Only 63% of the drugs were prescribed using generic names. Moreover, none of the prescriptions, specified the quantity of the drug which needs to be used while only 25% specified the area of application. Conclusions: Topical corticosteroids are one of the most used and abused drugs in dermatology OPD. Hence, it is important that drug utilisation and prescription studies of these drugs are conducted periodically not only to generate baseline data but also to help health care professionals make appropriate changes if needed to ensure that the drugs are prescribed rationally.
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