ASSESSMENT OF PRESCRIPTION PATTERN, DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS AND RISK FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY DISORDERS

Respiratory disorders are a major cause of illness and death. Treating them often involves taking medicines, which can lead to problems. This study was done over a period of six months with 128 patients in Pulmonology Department at S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Davangere. The goal was to see how medicines were prescribed, check for polypharmacy and related problems and to find risk factors. Most patients were men from rural areas with common symptoms, like cough and breathlessness. The main diagnosis were infectious lung diseases. Patients were prescribed with antibiotics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and other supportive medications, which showed high polypharmacy. The World Health Organizations prescribing indicators showed that on average patients took 7.6 drugs per encounter with generic prescribing and excessive use of antibiotics and injectables. Polypharmacy was common, linked to drug interactions. The study found that patients had respiratory symptoms, prior illnesses, hospital stays, smoking exposure and occupational hazards. The study suggests that doctors should prescribe medicines carefully review prescriptions regularly and involve pharmacists more to improve patient safety and outcomes with Respiratory disorders and its treatment.