Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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Volume 25

 July - September 2009

Number  4


 

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An evaluation of doctors’ prescribing
performance in Nigeria

Akoria oA,1 Isah AO2

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess prescribing indicators and describe influences on doctors’ prescribing in Nigeria

Methodology: Doctors’ prescriptions from eight public and nine private hospitals were surveyed, and the WHO prescribing indicators calculated. Age, sex, academic background, drug information sources, access to the National Essential Medicines List and the strongest influence(s) on prescribing were evaluated. Data were analysed using SPSS.

Results: Eight hundred thirty three prescriptions from 28 doctors were assessed. Age and working experience were 38.8 ± 8.1 and 13.4 ± 8.4 years respectively. Pharmaceutical representatives were the most popular sources of drug information; influences during internship contributed most to current prescribing. Average number of drugs per encounter and percent encounters with injections were higher in private hospitals (3.96, p = 0.01; 38.51; p = 0.01 respectively); doctors aged >40 years prescribed more antibiotics (% encounters with antibiotics 52.63; p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Pharmaceutical detailing is an important influence on doctors’ prescribing and the internship is a critical and vulnerable period. Both should be targeted in interventions to improve prescribing.

KEY WORDS: Prescribing, Doctors, Influences, Nigeria, WHO prescribing indicators.

Pak J Med Sci    July - September 2009    Vol. 25 No. 4    533-538

How to cite this article:

Akoria oA, Isah AO. An evaluation of doctors’ prescribing performance in Nigeria. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(4):533-538.


1. Dr. Akoria oA, Mbbs, fmcp,
2. Prof. Isah AO, Mbbs, fmcp, fwacp, md
1,2: Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Department of Medicine,
University of Benin/
University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Benin City, Nigeria.

Correspondence

Akoria, O.A.
P.O. Box 5212,
Benin City, Nigeria
E-mail: obakoria@yahoo.com

* Receive for Publication: March 31, 2009
* Accepted: June 29, 2009



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