Concerning activities among medical experts in prestigious universities have been revealed by a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), raising questions about patient safety. This study, which was carried out at 13 medical schools—including esteemed ones like Safdarjung and AIIMS—uncovered concerning patterns in the way prescriptions are written.
One of the study’s main conclusions was that almost 45% of physicians were giving their patients incomplete prescriptions. This indicates that a sizable percentage of prescriptions lacked important information about the composition, dosage, length, and frequency of drugs. These inadequate prescriptions increase the likelihood of medication errors and hazardous drug responses, as well as raising concerns about the quality of care received.
The investigation found “unacceptable deviations” in about 10% of the prescriptions examined, in addition to incomplete prescriptions. Concerns over the precision and suitability of treatment plans were raised by these deviations, which included instances where more than one diagnosis was indicated and the improper prescription of drugs.
The year-long study, titled “Evaluation of prescriptions from tertiary care hospitals across India for deviations from treatment guidelines & their potential consequences,” was published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research and provides important insight into the significance of following treatment guidelines and how they affect patient outcomes.
The study’s cross-sectional observational methodology was used in outpatient departments of tertiary care institutions that housed ICMR Rational Use of Medicines Centers between 2019 and 2020. With this method, prescriptions for deviating from accepted treatment protocols were examined, and the possible effects on the health of the patient were evaluated.
The report emphasizes that “prescriptions having deviations” included both incomplete prescriptions that lacked necessary details and prescriptions that did not follow established treatment procedures. Moreover, deviations classified as “unacceptable deviations” were those that might result in medication interactions, a lack of therapeutic response, higher healthcare expenses, avoidable adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and antibiotic resistance.With 4,838 prescriptions analyzed out of a total of 7,800 received from the collaborating institutions, the report’s conclusions are noteworthy. Of these, 2,171 prescriptions had flaws that were found to be deficient. This suggests a significant percentage of non-compliance with treatment guidelines and possible threats to patient safety.
The survey also showed that 9.8% of the prescriptions were completely wrong, which emphasizes how serious the matter is. Concerns regarding misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment methods were raised by these inaccurate prescriptions, which included cases where more than one diagnosis was mentioned.Notably, the physicians who wrote these incorrect or partial prescriptions were skilled practitioners with four to eighteen years of experience and postgraduate training in their fields. In spite of their experience, the study found that treatment recommendations were not always followed, particularly when it came to ailments like pain management and gastrointestinal health.
For example, the research described situations in which patients who presented with pain symptoms were also provided pantoprazole along with analgesics. Although pantoprazole is a gastroprotective medication recommended for people who may develop peptic ulcers, its needless prescription when used with analgesics can result in unfavorable side effects like rash, edema, and bloating in the abdomen. This emphasizes the need for better prescription practices and strict adherence to treatment guidelines.
The results of the ICMR study highlight how crucial it is to follow treatment recommendations and the possible negative effects of doing otherwise on patient safety and health outcomes. In order to encourage evidence-based practices, ongoing education, and quality improvement activities in the delivery of medical treatment, healthcare practitioners, institutions, and regulatory agencies must work together to address these concerns.
SOURCE:
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
