Medicines Prescription Pattern in the Management of HIV/AIDS Patients in Public Hospitals, Kwara State, Nigeria.
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
Appropriate medicine prescription is crucial for optimum medicine use in the management of
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients. This study examined the medicine prescription pattern in the management of HIV/AIDS patients. It was conducted in seven public hospitals in six local government areas representing the three Senatorial Districts of Kwara State. Seven hundred and eighty prescription sheets of eligible HIV/AIDS patients were obtained and reviewed. In-depth interviews of ten prescribers who provided healthcare to these patients were also conducted. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. In-depth interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, analyzed and developed into ethnographic summary. The results showed that prescription of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) was in adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy; 96.4% of the patients were on first line ARVs regimen; 56.3% had prescriptions for co-trimoxazole preventive therapy, none for isoniazid preventive therapy while 7.8% had prescriptions for artemisinin-based combination therapy. Proportion of prescriptions that had potential drug interactions was 51.0% while those in accordance with Standard Treatment Guidelines and proportion of medicines prescribed using generic names were lower than the set standards of the Nigeria National Drug Policy (NNDP). Half of the prescribers used both brand and generic names in prescribing medicines. The prescription pattern of medicines in the management of HIV/AIDS patients in public hospitals, Kwara State did not meet up with the set standards of the NNDP. Periodic training of prescribers on standard prescription practices is recommended.
Description
None
Keywords
HIV/AIDS Patients, Antiretroviral and Non-antiretroviral Medicines, Prescription Pattern, Nigeria National Drug Policy
Citation
Williams, F.E., Awoyemi, A.O., Parakoyi, D.B., Jolayemi, E.T. & Akande, T.M. (2016). Medicines Prescription Pattern in the Management of HIV/AIDS Patients in Public Hospitals, Kwara State, Nigeria. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Development and Practice. 1(1) 78-95.