Vitamin D: prescription audit in tertiary health care centre

Background: Vitamin-D is critically important for development, growth and maintenance of health of human being. Many evidences show association between vit-D deficiency and several serious health conditions. Data collection on use of drugs is being obtained with the aim of optimizing drug therapy. So far till date only few studies about prescription pattern of vit-D have been found. Hence it is very important to do audit of prescriptions of vit-D. The aim of the study is to provide concise and updated information about the use of vit-D in tertiary care hospital and to record demographic details of patients.Methods: After ethical approval, this cross sectional study was conducted at tertiary health centre. Patient and drug data (name of drug, dose, dosage form and route of administration) was collected from the patient’s prescriptions in OPD.Results: Highest prescriptions of vit-D were found in orthopedic department (22% of total prescriptions of that department). Prescribing percentage of vit-D in medicine department was 4.6%, dermatology 1.5% and in psychiatry 0.8% of total prescriptions. Prescriptions of vit-D in combination with calcium were found in orthopedics (52%), medicine (7%) and obstetrics and gynecology (10%) departments.Conclusions: Highest prescriptions of vit-D alone and with calcium found in orthopedic department. Periodic therapeutic audit is necessary to rationalise the use of vit D

Knowledge, attitude and practice of adverse drug reactions reporting among nurses in a tertiary care centre

Background: Adverse drug reactions are one of the major medicine related problem related to pharmacotherapy which may lead to increased morbidity and mortality causing increased hospital stay and financial burden on the society. Spontaneous voluntary reporting of adverse drug reaction can play a vital role in generating safety signals in which nurses can play important role, hence this study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge attitude and practice of ADR reporting along with factors affecting reporting among nurses.Methods: The present study was a cross sectional questionnaire based study, which included nurses of a tertiary care hospital in central India. We tried to find out the possible ways to perk up spontaneous reporting of ADR and factors responsible for scarce reporting of ADRs.Results: After analyzing the data, we observed few of responders were aware of the ADR reporting system and the most encouraging finding was that majority of the responders were of the view that this reporting system is necessary. However, response to practice related questions was below average. Main factors which discouraged ADR reporting by nurses was thinking that reporting would lead to extra work and non availability of forms.Conclusions: The deficiencies in ADR reporting require awareness so as to perquisite spontaneous reporting and improve safety of patients. Training to nurses will lead to improvement in reporting of ADR