Dataset Information

Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Irrational prescription of drugs can lead to high cost of treatment thus limiting access to essential medicines. We assessed the affordability and appropriateness of prescriptions written for diabetic patients in Eastern Uganda.

Methods

We collected secondary data from the health management information system registers of patients who attended the outpatient medical clinic at Mbale regional referral hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The average cost of the prescriptions was calculated and adjusted odds ratios for predictors for unaffordability estimated using logistic regression. Computed scores for indicators of rational drug prescription were used to assess the extent of rational prescribing.

Results

The median cost per prescription was USD 11.34 (IQR 8.1, 20.2). Majority of the diabetic patients (n = 2462; 94.3%, 95% CI: 93.3-95.1%) could not afford the prescribed drugs. Predictors for unaffordability were if a prescription contained: ? 4 medicines (AOR = 12.45; 95% CI: 3.9-39.7); an injectable (AOR = 5.47; 95%CI: 1.47-20.32) and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus with other comorbidities (AOR = 3.36; 95%CI: 1.95-5.78). Having no antidiabetic drug prescribed was protective for non-affordability (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.24-0.61). The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.8. The percentage prescription of drugs by generic name and from the essential medicine and health supplies list of Uganda were (6160/7461; 82.6%, 96% CI: 81.7%-83.4%) and (6092/7461; 81.7%, 95% CI: 80.8%-82.5%) respectively against WHO standard of 100%.

Conclusion

The majority of diabetic patients (94.3%) in Eastern Uganda cannot afford to buy prescribed medicines. The government should therefore ensure that essential medicines are readily accessible in public health facilities.

SUBMITTER: Obakiro SB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7785215 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Obakiro Samuel Baker SB Kiyimba Kenedy K Napyo Agnes A Kanyike Andrew Marvin AM Mayoka Wilberforce John WJ Nnassozi Aishah Ggalabuzi AG Aguti Beatrice B Akech Gabriel Madut GM Waako John Paul JP

PloS one 20210105 1

<h4>Background</h4>Irrational prescription of drugs can lead to high cost of treatment thus limiting access to essential medicines. We assessed the affordability and appropriateness of prescriptions written for diabetic patients in Eastern Uganda.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected secondary data from the health management information system registers of patients who attended the outpatient medical clinic at Mbale regional referral hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The average cost of the pr ...[more]

PMID: 33400703

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Dataset Information

Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Similar Datasets

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