Evaluation of Medicine Prescription Pattern in Orthopedic Outpatient Clinics of Kerman Province, Iran

Background: This study was aimed to evaluate the orthopedists’ prescription pattern for outpatients referred to private clinics in Kerman province, Iran. Methods: In this study a total of ۵۹,۶۱۳ outpatients’ prescriptions issued by orthopedists contracting with Iran Health insurance organization and Iran Social Security Organization from the ۱st May ۲۰۱۴ to the ۱st May ۲۰۱۵ were analyzed for mean number of drugs per prescription, route of administration, drug category, drug names and the most common prescribed drugs. Results: Mean number of drugs per prescription was ۲.۴۸. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most frequently prescribed drugs (۶۰.۳۴%) followed by vitamins & minerals (۵۳.۸۸%), skeletal muscle relaxants (۳۳.۱۸%) and corticosteroids (۳۳.۰ %). Naproxen ۲۵۰mg (۱۴.۲۹%) and diclofenac ۱۰۰mg (۷.۵%) were the most frequently prescribed NSAIDs. Vitamin D۳ (injection & oral soft gelatin capsule) was the most frequently prescribed vitamin & mineral (۲۴.۷۲%). Gabapentin ۳۰۰mg (۱۲.۷۳%) and methocarbamol ۵۰۰ mg (۱۰.۵۹%) were the most frequently prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants. Methylprednisolone acetate (۱۰.۴۸%) and triamcinolone acetonide (۷.۴۵%) were the most frequently prescribed corticosteroids. Anti-ulcer drugs were prescribed only for ۴.۱۱% of outpatients. Conclusion: NSAIDs, vitamins & minerals and corticosteroids were the most frequent prescribed drugs by orthopedists in Iran. The high rate of vitamin D۳ and calcium prescription is a valuable finding for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; however, anti-ulcer drugs were prescribed lower than the requiered rate and this was a remarkable finding which increases the risk of NSAIDs /corticosteroids- induced gastropathies. Therefore, some interventions for improving drug prescription by orthopedists are suggested.

Keywords:

Medicine prescription , Orthopedists , Outpatients , Kerman province , Iran