ABSTRACT

Selection of glucocorticoids along with its dose and duration are the important aspects which should be considered while prescribing to the critically ill hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the prescription pattern of glucocorticoids and promote appropriate use of it. A prospective observational study, conducted for a period of six months from September 2019 to February 2020 in Navodaya Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre (NMCH&RC) Raichur. Current study was performed in patients of age 18 or above and either sex who were prescribed with Glucocorticoid. All the new cases with drug prescription were included in the study.  Patients who were below 18, ICU patient, lactating and pregnant women were excluded from the study. All the collected data were analyzed with the help of standard guidelines. In the present study, the prescribing of glucocorticoids is found to be appropriate about 84.40 %. However, to ensure safe, effective and well-balanced therapeutic management with glucocorticoids, both patients and prescribers should be more aware of the appropriate dose, dosage regimen, route of administration, duration of therapy and overall guidelines for glucocorticoids prescribing. Hence the involvement of clinical pharmacists in clinical practice helps to increase proper usage of glucocorticoids and optimum outcome. Our study concludes that standard treatment guidelines should be developed at hospital for prescribing of glucocorticoids taking into consideration the patient specific parameters which will improve therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: Prescribing pattern, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, appropriateness, inappropriateness.