Abstract
PATTERN OF DRUG USE FOR VARIOUS DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Worldwide in large portions skin problems have resulted with great morbidity especially in developing countries. In present day medical practice unnecessary prescription of drugs and ineffective treatment have become common consequences of irrational use of medicines leading to adverse effects and economic burden in patients. Drugs are those which are used and having capability for cure, prevention and/or diagnosis of a disease, use of least possible and required quantity of any medicine is known as rational use of drug. Thus, studies of drug use pattern are good exploratory tools for marketing, distributing, and use of drug in concern with social, economic and medical consequences. Aims and Objectives: To study the rate of incidence of dermatological problems in a tertiary health care hospital and to analyse the drug use pattern in dermatology department of the same hospital. Thereby, to create awareness in health care professionals of the hospital on any ADRs that occur and if any unnecessary drug use observed, which results in better management efforts by the health care professionals. Materials and Methods: The present study is a prospective cross sectional study which was carried out in RVS Multi Specialty Hospitals, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was well designed with an informed concern form, method of data collection, parameters to be collected and steps to be followed in reviewing the collected data. All the study plan was submitted to the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) for approval of the study. Conclusion: From the study it can be concluded that among all the cases attended to the dermatology department, cases with acne form rashes and tinea were of high incident with 25.66% and 16.25% cases of overall study population. It was also observed that the number of patients admitted to dermatology department were less than 5% representing that unnecessary admission of patients were not taken place. However, regular analysis of drug use pattern should be done for better management of patients