Volume 16, Issue 2 (March & April 2026)
J Research Health 2026, 16(2): 117-128 |
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Ethics code: Pharm.B/44/20-21
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Hawlader M B, Islam M S, Prattay K M R, Sarkar M R, Raihan S Z, Muhit M A et al . Prescription and Drug Use Patterns in Non- COVID Ambulatory Patients in Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic. J Research Health 2026; 16 (2) :117-128
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2804-en.html
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2804-en.html
Md. Bappy Hawlader1 
, Md. Saiful Islam2 , Kazi Milenur Rahman Prattay3 , Md. Raihan Sarkar1 , Sheikh Zahir Raihan4 , Md. Abdul Muhit4 , Nahid Sharmin5
, Md. Saiful Islam2 , Kazi Milenur Rahman Prattay3 , Md. Raihan Sarkar1 , Sheikh Zahir Raihan4 , Md. Abdul Muhit4 , Nahid Sharmin5
1- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
2- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. & Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Division, BCSIR Dhaka Laboratories, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
3- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. & Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
4- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
5- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. ,nahidsharmin@du.ac.bd
2- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. & Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Division, BCSIR Dhaka Laboratories, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
3- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. & Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
4- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
5- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. ,
Abstract: (384 Views)
Background: Irrational prescribing has been a major public health concern worldwide, including in Bangladesh. Lack of effective treatment guidelines and drug regulation policies to manage COVID-19 allowed an upsurge in this malpractice during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prescription pattern in non-COVID ambulatory patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh.
Methods: A total of 600 prescriptions were randomly collected from non-COVID outpatients at three tertiary hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between December 2020 and June 2021. COVID-19 status was confirmed through verbal screening and antigen test verification when applicable. Data were organized and analyzed using Google spreadsheet, MS Excel, and SPSS software (version 26.0).
Results: Mean±SD number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 5.25±2.1 and dependent on patients’ age groups (P<0.001) and gender (P=0.013). Drugs were prescribed by brand names, mostly 3107(98.69%), and 2452(77.9%) of them belonged to the essential drugs list. Most prescribed drugs were from gastroenterology 2025(64.33%) and respiratory group 1716 (54.50%). A mean of 7.38 errors were found per prescription of which the predominant type was error of omission. Each prescription carried 1.157 errors of omission related to the prescriber’s details, 349(50.29%), and diagnosis, 144(20.75%). A total of 427(13.56%) of all the prescribed drugs were at risk of drug-drug interaction.
Conclusion: To address the above-mentioned concerns, targeted interventions, such as prescriber training on rational drug use and practicing World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators, implementation and strengthening national prescription monitoring policies, and ensuring a robust supply of necessary drugs are recommended while planning for combating any future outbreak of COVID-19 or similar diseases.
Methods: A total of 600 prescriptions were randomly collected from non-COVID outpatients at three tertiary hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between December 2020 and June 2021. COVID-19 status was confirmed through verbal screening and antigen test verification when applicable. Data were organized and analyzed using Google spreadsheet, MS Excel, and SPSS software (version 26.0).
Results: Mean±SD number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 5.25±2.1 and dependent on patients’ age groups (P<0.001) and gender (P=0.013). Drugs were prescribed by brand names, mostly 3107(98.69%), and 2452(77.9%) of them belonged to the essential drugs list. Most prescribed drugs were from gastroenterology 2025(64.33%) and respiratory group 1716 (54.50%). A mean of 7.38 errors were found per prescription of which the predominant type was error of omission. Each prescription carried 1.157 errors of omission related to the prescriber’s details, 349(50.29%), and diagnosis, 144(20.75%). A total of 427(13.56%) of all the prescribed drugs were at risk of drug-drug interaction.
Conclusion: To address the above-mentioned concerns, targeted interventions, such as prescriber training on rational drug use and practicing World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators, implementation and strengthening national prescription monitoring policies, and ensuring a robust supply of necessary drugs are recommended while planning for combating any future outbreak of COVID-19 or similar diseases.
Keywords: WHO prescribing indicators, COVID-19, Tertiary level hospitals, Outpatients, Prescription errors, Bangladesh
Type of Study: Orginal Article |
Subject:
● International Health
Received: 2025/05/14 | Accepted: 2025/10/18 | Published: 2026/03/1
Received: 2025/05/14 | Accepted: 2025/10/18 | Published: 2026/03/1
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