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Observational Study
. 2024 Aug 3;8(1):e002431.
doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002431.

Rational prescribing and dispensing of oral dosage forms of medicines to children: an observational study

Leila Kenzu Kemal  1 , Rahel Belete Abebe  2 , Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie  2 , Tirsit Ketsela Zeleke  3 , Eden Abetu Mehari  2 , Gizework Alemnew Mekonnen  2 , Faisel Dula Sema  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Rational prescribing and dispensing of oral dosage forms of medicines to children: an observational study

Leila Kenzu Kemal et al. BMJ Paediatr Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Irrational prescribing and dispensing of oral dosage forms of medicines to paediatric patients are major public health issues, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. Many challenges affect the rational use of oral dosage forms of medicines in children; these include a lack of dosage forms appropriate for the age and a lack of dose flexibility in dosage forms.

Objectives: To assess the rational prescribing and dispensing practices of oral dosage forms to children at dispensaries of the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialised Hospital (UoGCSH).

Method: A retrospective design for prescribing indicators and a cross-sectional study design to assess rational dispensing were used at the outpatient dispensary units of UoGCSH. A total of 931 oral dosage forms to assess prescribing indicators and 400 for dispensing indicators were used. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V.26.0, IBM Corporation). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse indicators, and the χ2 test was used to compare indicators between dispensaries.

Result: Out of a total of 931 oral dosage forms for 700 prescriptions, 56.3% were solid oral dosage forms. An average number of oral dosage forms per child was 1.33±0.62. Only 150 (16.13%) (95% CI: 14% to 18.4%) were adequate for the weight of the child. The percentage of oral dosage forms not suitable for the age was 7.1% (66), (95% CI: 5.6% to 8.8%), and about 0.8% (95% CI: 0% to 1.8%) were adequately labelled. Drugs that needed manipulation before administering a single unit were 81 (39.7%), 95% CI: 33.7% to 47.1%.

Conclusion: The proportion of the prescribed medications that were adequate for the weight of the child was low, although the majority of prescriptions' weights were not recorded. Oral dosage forms not suitable for children were prescribed. The proportion of medications that needed manipulation before being administered as a single unit was high.

Keywords: health services research; pharmacology; therapeutics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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