The Assessment of Drug Utilization Study of Anticancer Drugs Using WHO Prescribing Indicators in a Government Tertiary Care Hospital of the Hyderabad - Karnataka Region of India

Asmatanzeem Bepari; Nayana Sakre; Ishrat Rahman; Shaik Kalimulla Niazi; Asmabi M. Dervesh

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.249

Authors

Asmatanzeem Bepari Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nayana Sakre Department of Pharmacology, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya, Karnataka, India
Ishrat Rahman Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Shaik Kalimulla Niazi Department of Preparatory Health Sciences, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Asmabi M. Dervesh Department of Biochemistry, Prakash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Urun-Islampur, Sangli, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.249

Keywords:

WHO prescribing indicators, Anticancer drugs, Drug utilization review, pre-chemotherapy drugs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major burden and threat to global society. A wide range of chemotherapeutic agents is extensively used to treat cancer at different stages. Inappropriate drug use may also lead to the raised cost of medical care, adverse drug effects, and patient mortality. Hence, in recent years, drug utilisation studies have become a potential tool to be used in the evaluation of different health care systems including cancer.

AIMS: The objectives of the study were to identify the various types of cancer, the commonly prescribed drugs, rational use of anticancer drugs, and analyse the prescribing indicators in a tertiary care government hospital of India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Newly diagnosed cancer and/or known case of carcinoma of either sex which required treatment/on treatment with chemotherapy aged > 18 yrs admitted in Radiotherapy Department from April 2016 to September 2016 were included in the study and analysed for prescribing indicators.

RESULTS: The head & neck cancers were the prevalent cancers observed with more preponderance among males. Most of the patients were prescribed with a single anticancer drug. Cisplatin was the most commonly used cytotoxic drug followed by carboplatin, and antimetabolites. The most commonly used adjuvant drugs in our study were anti-emetics and anti-peptic ulcer drugs. Over 82% of anticancer agents were taken from the essential drug list and were prescribed in generic names, indicating rational use.

CONCLUSION: Over 82% of anticancer agents were taken from the essential drug list and were prescribed in generic names, indicating rational use.