Prescribing Pattern of Antipsychotic Medicines among Physicians in Federal Medical Center, Lokoja, North Central Nigeria.
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Psychosis is a symptom of several mental
disorders characterized by an impaired relationship with
reality which has been found to be on the increase in
prevalence across the globe in recent times.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the
prescribing pattern of antipsychotics by physicians in the
Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State and describe the
rational prescribing of antipsychotics among the physicians.
Methodology: The research design was a descriptive
retrospective study assessing the pattern of antipsychotics
prescribed by physicians in the Federal Medical Centre,
Lokoja. Data were collected from copies of prescription
sheets containing antipsychotics from 1st January, 2016 to
31st December, 2016. The data were analyzed using SPSS
version 20. Chi square test was used to determine
relationships between categorical variables and p-value <
0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of 1101 prescription sheets containing 1401
prescribed antipsychotics were obtained and analyzed. The
most frequently prescribed antipsychotic was olanzapine
(23.6%) closely followed by risperidone (20.7%) while
aripiprazole was the least frequently prescribed (0.3%).
About ninety-one percent (91.2%) of the medicines were
prescribed in their generic form and 50.4% of the
prescriptions were in line with treatment guidelines in
selection and combination. The average number of drugs
per prescription was 2.17 while average number of
antipsychotics contained per prescription was 1.3. About
half (52.5%) of antipsychotics were available at the pharmacy
while 47.5% were out of stock.
Conclusion: Olanzapine was the most prescribed
antipsychotic in the facility. Prescriptions with inappropriate
doses and use of injectable drugs were not majorly observed
in the study.
Description
Keywords
Antipsychotics, prescribing patterns.
Citation
Giwa A., Jamiu M.O., Giwa H.B., Samuel S., Abu-Saeed K., Njinga N.S. (2022): Prescribing Pattern of Antipsychotic Medicines among Physicians in Federal Medical Center, Lokoja, North Central Nigeria. Pharmaceutical Journal of Kenya, 26 (2); 42-46, Published by Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya. Available online at https://psk.or.ke/journals/article-102