Exploring drug utilization patterns in postoperative patients to combat post-surgical complication: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Post-surgical pharmacotherapy with multiple agents is marked in the modern indoor hospital context to prevent postoperative infections, pain, nausea, and vomiting. The primary objective of this research was to assess postoperative patients’ drug use patterns using WHO indicators. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 385 postoperative patients of the surgery ward in the hospital over six months from (22 November 2022 to 2 May 2023) after IRC approval. Data regarding prescribed drugs were obtained and recorded in structured case proforma using the patient’s treatment cardex. The different drug use indicators provided by the WHO were used to analyze the data. Results: Of the total 385 Patients, the commonest cause of hospitalization was elective lower segment caesarean section (93.2%), followed by appendicitis (3.6%). Analgesics (21.82%), antimicrobials (21.48%), anti-ulcer (10.81%), and anti-emetic (15.06%) were the most commonly prescribed drugs. Metronidazole (97.66%) was the most commonly prescribed drug among antimicrobials, followed by Ceftriaxone (77.4%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 9.17, and the average number of antibiotics per prescription was 1.97. The percentage of generic drugs and national essential medicine list prescriptions was 19.64% and 59.25%, respectively. Discussion and conclusion: Polypharmacy was very common, particularly in the case of antimicrobial agents. Urgent steps like specific guidelines, training, and monitoring of drug use are needed to correct some irrational approaches and reduce the cost of treatment. Similarly, prescriptions should be encouraged according to the national essential list of medicines.