The Trend of Prescribing Ceftriaxone Injection in the Medical Prescriptions of the Social Security Organization-insured Persons in Kerman during ۲۰۰۶- ۲۰۱۲

Background: Rational drug usage is a main priority in health research, and controlling prescribing Ceftriaxone injection due to its fatal adverse effects is a crucial challenge in Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the trend of prescribing Ceftriaxone injections in the medical prescriptions of the Social Security Organization-insured persons in Kerman during ۲۰۰۶- ۲۰۱۲. Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, using descriptive data mining all data about prescribing the three types of Ceftriaxone injection that were prescribed by the physicians and dentists and dispensed in Kerman pharmacies during ۷۸ months (December ۲۲, ۲۰۰۵ to June ۲۰, ۲۰۱۲), obtained from The Comprehensive Medical Documentation System, in the Medical Documents Audit Office of Social Security Organization in Kerman was extracted by census sampling. Then, the prescribing rate of Ceftriaxone injection (defined daily dose) was analyzed and compared in different groups. Results: About ۱۷ million prescriptions from ۳۶۲۱ physicians and dentists (aged ۲۸-۹۱ years) with male/female ratio as ۱.۷ were analyzed. About ۳۰۰ thousands of prescriptions (۱.۷۵%) contained Ceftriaxone. The average number of monthly prescriptions; count of monthly prescriptions with the drug; and the ratio of prescribing Ceftriaxone in all prescriptions were significantly different between general practitioners and specialists/sub-specialists (P<۰.۰۰۱). The trend of Ceftriaxone prescribing has slightly decreased during ۶.۵ years. Conclusion: The studies on drug prescribing in Iran show the inappropriate patterns of drug prescribing and use, and also low adherence to the prescribed medications; therefore, serious interventions should be performed by the responsible organizations to control this challenge.

Keywords:

Ceftriaxone , Rational Drug Usage , Descriptive Data Mining , Medical informatics , Pharmacoepidemiology