Prescription Pattern and the Cost Analysis of Tinea and Acne Patients in the Dermatology Department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Drug utilization, Tinea, Acne. Prescription

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February 17, 2016

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Dermatophytes are fungi that invade and multiply within keratinized tissues causing infection called dermatophytosis or Tinea or ringworm. Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit and affects more than 80% of the general population in their lifetime. This study was undertaken to monitor the current prescribing pattern of anti-acne and anti-tinea drugs in dermatology outpatient department in a tertiary care teaching hospital. It was undertaken for 30 days in the month of June 2009. The current study was designed as a unicentric observational study. All patient attending the dermatology OPD with acne and tinea infections with or without any concomitant disease were included in the study. The parameters included were demography, diagnosis, Average number of drugs per prescription, Specific trade preparations used, Dosage forms preferred and cost of prescription. Result - Total 1790 prescription were audited and only the prescription for acne and tinea infections were considered. A total of 55 (3.07%) patients were suffering from tinea and a total of 64 (3.57%) patients were suffering from acne. The average number of drugs per prescription prescribed for tinea infection was 3.17. The average number of drugs per prescription prescribed for acne infection was 3.04. This was a pilot study and the drugs commonly used in tinea and acne cases were studied along with the cost analysis. More studies with greater duration and greater sample size need to be carried out for a better understanding of economic influencers.