Drug utilization pattern in outpatient departments of a tertiary care rural teaching hospital, Central Gujarat

Background: Drug utilization studies would benefit to measure various dimensions such as medicine use and drug prescribing pattern. Aim and Objective: This study aims to study drug utilization pattern in the outpatient departments of a tertiary care rural teaching hospital in Central Gujarat. Materials and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the 500 outdoor patients of any age and either sex from various departments of Dhiraj Hospital, Piparia. Various aspects of drug utilization were studied. Results: In total, 811 drugs were prescribed. Of the 811 drugs, 87.79% drugs were prescribed by brand names while only 12.21% were prescribed by their generic names. Only 30.01% prescribed drugs belonged to the essential medicine list and 35.55% were rational. Of the drugs prescribed, 89.14% were fixed-dose drug combinations. Out of all drugs, 56.75% were found to be most appropriate for dose, frequency of administration, and duration of therapy, whereas 33.40% and 9.85% were found to be appropriate and inappropriate, respectively. In dosage form and route of administration, 90.15% were found to be appropriate and 9.85% were inappropriate, respectively. Conclusion: Drug utilization studies would help rational use of medicines and provide better patient health care.