Evaluation of rational medicine prescribing: A cross-sectional study of public hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Improper utilization of medications leads to undesirable consequences such as unnecessary adverse drug reactions, heightened hospitalizations, escalated treatment expenses, and potentially fatal outcomes. The main aim of this study was to assess the adherence of public hospitals in Ghana's Ashanti Region to the principles of rational medicine usage. Methods: Using a systematic random sampling approach, a total of 2462 prescriptions were retrospectively assessed from 25 public hospitals in the Ashanti Region. Selected World Health Organization indicators for rational medicine use were employed in the evaluation. The data underwent analysis using SPSS version 21, and the hospitals were ranked based on the calculated index of rational drug prescribing. Results: The average number of medications prescribed per patient encounter was 3.64 (95%CI: 3.58 – 3.70), and the average treatment cost amounted to GH₵25.58 (approximately $4.26). Approximately 73.4% of medications were prescribed using generic names (95%CI: 72.3% – 74.5%), while 91.7% of medications (95%CI: 90.96% – 92.4%) were prescribed from the Essential Medicines List. Antibiotics were prescribed in 60.7% of encounters, while injections were administered in 13.4% of cases. Only 62.3% of encounters received the appropriate antibiotic for their diagnosis. The index of rational drug prescribing in the Ashanti Region was 71.4%. Conclusion: In general, there has been an improvement in the rational prescribing of medicines in the region. However, it is crucial to give more attention to issues such as polypharmacy and irrational antibiotic prescribing. Interventions should be implemented to address this concerning trend and prioritize the safety of patients.