Report of Drug Utilization Evaluation in Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital

Abstract

The drug utilization evaluation subcommittee began to evaluate drug use within Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital on July 14, 2000. Twelve items of list-D-antibiotics and 2 items of non-antibiotics were evaluated. Data was collected for both inpatients and outpatients who used these drugs. During the period of July 14 to December 31, 2000, these antibiotics were prescribed 1,271 times. Ceftriaxone inj (>1 g/day) was the most frequently prescribed (659 times, 51.8%), ceftazidime inj and imipenem inj were preseribed 198 (15.6%) and 92 (7.2%) times, respectively. Qualitatively, the majority of 4 items of antibiotics such as imipenem inj, ciprofloxacin inj, ciprofloxacin tab and ceftazidime inj were prescribed appropriately according to the hospital criteria, appropriate indication 80%, appropriate dose 87%, appropriate interval 81%, drug interaction avoidance 55% and no adverse drug events 72%. Overall, appropriate drug use accounted for 69%. Quantitatively, cost ratio of 5 antibiotics (imipenem inj, ciprofloxacin inj ceftazidime inj, ceftriaxone inj and vancomycin inj) per total antibiotics cost within the hospital decreased from 27.3% during January – June 2000 to 22.9% during July – December 2000. For non antibiotics, pentoxiphylline tablets were appropriately prescribed according to its recommended indications 61% and dose 61%. Atorvastatin tablets were appropriately prescribed according to its recommended indications 94% and dose 100%. The average cost of pentoxiphylline during July – December 2000 decreased from January – June 2000. Average cost of atorvastatin tablets could not be studied during the study period since it was a new drug in the hospital drug list. Overall, most of the drugs in the study were used appropriately and their average cost decreased after starting the drug utilization evaluation program.