Publication:

Prescription audit of tertiary care centre using world health organization core prescribing indicators: an observational study

Background Rational use of medicines is a cornerstone of effective healthcare delivery. Inappropriate prescribing practices can lead to polypharmacy, increased healthcare costs, ADRs and poor patient compliance. DUS, using World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators, are essential tools for evaluating prescription patterns and promoting rational drug use, especially in tertiary care settings where patient load and disease complexity are high. Analyse prescription patterns using WHO drug use indicators. Assess the extent of polypharmacy & use of generic versus brand-name drugs. Commonly prescribed drugs & their combinations.

Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted in all OPDs of a tertiary care centre. A total of 1,050 prescriptions were analysed over a study period from March 2024 to August 2025.

Results The average number of drugs per prescription was 5.84. 81.54% of drugs were prescribed by generic name. Antibiotics were prescribed in 15.72% of encounters, while injections were used in 1.81%. NSAIDs, particularly paracetamol and diclofenac, often co-prescribed with proton pump inhibitors. Antihypertensive and antidiabetic medications were commonly used due to the high burden of comorbid conditions.

Conclusions The study reveals a high level of polypharmacy in the OPD setting, though prescribing practices largely adhered to rational drug use principles. The high rate of generic prescribing and limited use of injections reflect appropriate prescribing behaviour. Continuous prescription auditing and periodic training programs are recommended to further improve rational drug use and minimize unnecessary polypharmacy.