A study on drug utilization and prescription habits of physicians in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India

doi:10.3736/jintegrmed2013048

Abstract

Objective

Improper prescribing habits and inappropriate drug use lead to serious health and economic consequences. This study was undertaken to evaluate drug utilization services and prescription patterns of homeopathic doctors in a government homeopathic teaching hospital in India.

Methods

No standardized homeopathic drug use indicators are available. The researchers used indicators for health care setting (drug availability)-modified prescribing indicators and patient care indicators, based on World Health Organization’s core drug use indicators. A cross-sectional, prospective, institutional, observational study of 2-month duration with record analysis was conducted on 600 patients visiting seven different outpatient departments (OPDs) for the first time at Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India, using the developed indicators.

Results

Overall availability of prescribed drugs was quite satisfactory (92.28%). Centesimal potencies accounted for the majority of prescriptions (74.76%). There was a poor record of diagnosis (39.17%) except in the OPDs of Gynecology and Obstetrics (68.48%, P < 0.01) and Dermatology (64.58%, P < 0.01). Records of investigational findings and ongoing therapies, if any, were also poor except OPDs of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Pediatrics. Structure of prescriptions was maintained satisfactorily in all the OPDs. Though tendency of using ‘individualized homeopathy’ predominated, there also existed the use of ‘polypharmacy’. Mean consultation time was 5.9 min. Labeling was extremely poor and is an area needing improvement. The prescriptions were highly legible.

Conclusion

This was a preliminary study, conducted for the first time in homeopathy using newly developed indicators that yield meaningful results. Further studies are necessary in order to evaluate the different factors involved and to plan future interventions to improve the quality of care in healthcare settings.

Key words: Homeopathy, Prescriptions, Drug, Durg utilization, Hospital

Munmun Koley, Subhranil Saha, Jogendra Singh Arya, Gurudev Choubey, Shubhamoy Ghosh, Rajib Purkait, Ramkumar Mondal, Bapi Kundu, Rajarshi Mukherjee. A study on drug utilization and prescription habits of physicians in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2013, 11(5): 305-313.

/ / Recommend

Add to citation manager EndNote| Reference Manager|ProCite|BibTeX|RefWorks

URL: http://www.jcimjournal.com/EN/10.3736/jintegrmed2013048

http://www.jcimjournal.com/EN/Y2013/V11/I5/305

[1]	Santos VD, Nitrini SM . Prescription and patient-care indicators in healthcare services[J]. Rev Saúde Pública, 2004,38(6):819-826 doi: 10.1590/S0034-89102004000600010
[2]	Angamo MT, Wabe NT, Raju NJ . Assessment of patterns of drug use by using World Health Organization’s prescribing, patient care and health facility indicators in selected health facilities in southwest Ethiopia[J]. J App Pharm Sci, 2011,1(7):62-66
[3]	Le Grand A, Hogerzeil HV, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM . Intervention research in rational use of drugs: a review[J]. Health Policy Plan, 1999,14(2):89-102 doi: 10.1093/heapol/14.2.89
[4]	Dong L, Yan H, Wang D . Drug prescribing indicators in village health clinics across 10 provinces of Western China[J]. Fam Pract, 2011,28(1):63-67 doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmq077
[5]	Internation Network for Rational Use of Drugs, World Health Organization . How to investigate drug use in health facilities: selected drug use indicators - EDM research series no. 007, 1993. (2013-02-26)[2013-02-27]. .
[6]	Belknap SM, Moore H, Lanzotti SA, Yarnold PR, Getz M, Deitrick DL, Peterson A, Akeson J, Maurer T, Soltysik RC, Storm GA, Brooks I . Application of software design principles and debugging methods to an analgesia prescription reduces risk of severe injury from medical use of opioids[J]. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2008,84(3):385-392 doi: 10.1038/clpt.2008.24
[7]	Bhattacharyya A, Gupta H, Dewangan MK . Prescription pattern study of the drugs used in tertiary hospitals of the Bilaspur region[J]. Asian J Pharm Clin Res, 2012,5(suppl 4):73-76
[8]	Banerjje DD . Textbook of homoeopathic pharmacy (including pharmacological principles for homoeopathic practice). New Delhi: B Jain Publishers Ltd. 2002.
[9]	Singh P, Yadav RJ, Pandey A . Utilization of indigenous systems of medicine and homeopathy in India[J]. Indian J Med Res, 2005,122(2):137-142
[10]	Government of West Bengal ; Department of Health & Family Welfare. [ 2013-03-22]. .
[11]	Biswas R, Chatterjee P, Mundle M . Prescribing habits of physicians in Medical College, Calcutta[J]. Indian J Commun Med, 2000,25(4):161-165
[12]	Kleijnen J, Knipschild P, Riet GT . Clinical trials of homeopathy[J]. BMJ, 1991,302(6772):316-323 doi: 10.1136/bmj.302.6772.316
[13]	Zou J, Li LY, Zhang C, Yan YR, Gao FX, Zhang H . Analysis of outpatient prescription indicators and trends in Chinese Jingzhou area between September 1 and 10, 2006-2009[J]. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol, 2011,5(2):270-275
[14]	Batty GM, Grant RL, Aggarwal R, Lowe D, Potter JM, Pearson MG, Jackson SHD . Using prescribing indicators to measure the quality of prescribing to elderly medical in-patients[J]. Age Aging, 2003,32(3):292-298 doi: 10.1093/ageing/32.3.292
[15]	Rokstad K, Straand J, Sandvik H . Patient encounters in general practice. An epidemiological survey in Mre and Romsdal. Tidsskr Nor Lgeforen 1997; 117(5): 659-664. Norwegian with abstract in English.
[16]	Deroukakis M . Selection of potencies by medical and non-medical homeopaths: a survey[J]. Homeopathy, 2002,91(3):150-155 doi: 10.1054/homp.2002.0026

Related Articles 15

[1]	Ming-min Xu, Pei Guo, Qing-yu Ma, Xuan Zhou, Yu-long Wei, Lu Wang, Yue Chen, Yu Guo. Can acupuncture enhance therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressants and reduce adverse drug reactions in patients with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(4): 305-320.
[2]	Keat Lam Ho, Phaik Har Yong, Chee Woon Wang, Umah Rani Kuppusamy, Chek Tung Ngo, Festo Massawe, Zhi Xiang Ng. Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth and eye diseases: A review on phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(4): 292-304.
[3]	Vibha Malhotra, Joanna Harnett, Erica McIntyre, Amie Steel, Keith Wong, Bandana Saini. To “tell or not to tell”—Exploring disclosure about medicine use by people living with sleep disorders. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(4): 338-347.
[4]	Lu Yin, Yun An, Xiao Chen, Hui-xin Yan, Tao Zhang, Xin-gang Lu, Jun-tao Yan. Local vibration therapy promotes the recovery of nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 265-273.
[5]	Ubiratan Cardinalli Adler, Maristela Schiabel Adler, Ana Elisa Madureira Padula, Livia Mitchiguian Hotta, Amarilysde Toledo Cesar, José Nelson Martins Diniz, Helen de Freitas Santos, Edson Zangiacomi Martinez. Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COVID-Simile study). Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 221-229.
[6]	Zeinab Vafaeipour, Bibi Marjan Razavi, Hossein Hosseinzadeh. Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its constituent (curcumin) on the metabolic syndrome: An updated review. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 193-203.
[7]	Jia-yi Zhao, Jin Pu, Jian Fan, Xin-yu Feng, Jian-wen Xu, Rong Zhang, Yan Shang. Tanshinone IIA prevents acute lung injury by regulating macrophage polarization. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 274-280.
[8]	Marisa Casal. Improving the health and treatment success rates of in vitro fertilization patients with traditional chinese medicine: need for more robust evidence and innovative approaches. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 187-192.
[9]	Ning Guo, Fei Wu, Mei Wu, Yuan Wang, Qing Lang, Xiao Lin, Yi Feng. Progress in the design and quality control of placeboes for clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine . Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 204-212.
[10]	Yan-jun Lin, Kun-li Jiao, Bo Liu, Lu Fang, Shu Meng. Antiplatelet and myocardial protective effect of shexiang tongxin dropping pill in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(2): 126-134.
[11]	Peter Bablis, Henry Pollard, Anthony L. Rosner. Stress reduction via neuro-emotional technique to achieve the simultaneous resolution of chronic low back pain with multiple inflammatory and biobehavioural indicators: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(2): 135-144.
[12]	Jose Antonio Castilla-Jimena, Isabel Ruiz-Pérez, Jesús Henares-Montiel. Impact of socioeconomic and health-related factors on consumption of homeopathic and natural remedies in Spain in 2006, 2011 and 2017. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(1): 52-56.
[13]	Jun-peng Yao, Li-ping Chen, Xian-jun Xiao, Ting-hui Hou, Si-yuan Zhou, Ming-min Xu, Kai Wang, Yu-jun Hou, Lin Zhang, Ying Li. Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating functional constipation: An overview of systematic reviews. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(1): 13-25.
[14]	Ofer Baranovitch, Meirav Wolff-Bar, Meora Feinmesser, Chen Sade-Zaltz, Ilan Tsarfaty, Victoria Neiman. Searching for the emotional roots of breast cancer: A cross-disciplinary analysis integrating psychology, Chinese medicine, and oncology biomarkers. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(1): 57-64.
[15]	Deng-chao Wang, Miao Yu, Wen-xian Xie, Li-yan Huang, Jian Wei, Yue-hua Lei. Meta-analysis on the effect of combining Lianhua Qingwen with Western medicine to treat coronavirus disease 2019. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(1): 26-33.

Metrics

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed

Comments

Recommended 10

[1]	Jin-rong Fu. Establishment of multivariate diagnosis and treatment system of modern gynecology of traditional Chinese medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 22-24
[2]	Hao Li, Ming-jiang Yao, Wen-ming Zhao, Jie Guan, Lin-lin Cai, Ling Cui. A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of Huannao Yicong capsule in senile patients with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 25-31
[3]	Zhi-chun Jin. Problems in establishing clinical guideline for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 5-8
[4]	SUN Ming-yu, ZUO Jian, DUAN Ji-feng, HAN Jun, FAN Shi-ming, ZHANG Wei, ZHU Li-fang, YAO Ming-hui. Antitumor activities of kushen flavonoids in vivo and in vitro. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 51-59
[5]	Min Cheng, Qiong Feng, Shu-wen Qian, Hui Gao, Cui-qing Zhu. Preliminary assay of p-amyloid binding elements in heart-beneficial recipe. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 68-72
[6]	Ning-qun Wang, Liang-duo Jiang, Zong-xing Li. Research progress in asthma-related quality of life. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 93-97
[7]	Jing-yuan Mao, Chang-xiao Liu, Heng-he Wang, Guang-li Wei , Zhen-peng Zhang, Jie Xing, Wang Xian liang , Ying-fei Bi . Effects of Shenmai Injection on serum concentration and pharmacokinetics of digoxin in dogs with heart failure. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1070-1074
[8]	Zhi-mei Wang, Bin Zhang. A study on translation of ellipses in Huangdi Neijing from perspective of hermeneutic theory. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1097-1100
[9]	Gui Yu, Jie Wang. Thinking on building the network cardiovasology of Chinese medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1206-1210
[10]	Pedro Saganha João, Doenitz Christoph, Greten Tobias, Efferth Thomas, J. Greten Henry. Qigong therapy for physiotherapists suffering from burnout: a preliminary study. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1233-1239