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An observational study to analyse the dose appropriateness of drugs prescribed in intensive care units of pediatric department

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Original Article

Author Details : Sumit Patel*, Akanksha Prajapati

Volume : 5, Issue : 3, Year : 2018

Article Page : 116-120

https://doi.org/10.18231/2393-9087.2018.0025

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Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric age group comprises about 40% of total population of India. Many medications are available to children and the safety of paediatric medications is an important public health issue. The challenge all the paediatricians are facing is the calculation of appropriate dose of drugs prescribed. A patient’s weight is often used to calculate the appropriate medication dose. When medication errors arise due to inaccurate or unknown patients’ weights, the dose of a prescribed medication could be significantly different from what is appropriate. Therefore the study was undertaken to compare the prescribed dose with standard dose of the drugs by using Clark’s formula.
Materials and Methods: Study was an open label cross-sectional. Children admitted to ICUs were included. Data of total 400 patients were collected, 200 from PICU and NICU each. Analysis of NICU and PICU was done separately. Comparison of prescribed total daily dose of each drug with the standard total daily dose was done.
Results: Total 712 and 437 drugs were prescribed in PICU and NICU. Antibiotics were the major group of drugs prescribed in both PICU and NICU. In comparison of prescribed and standard total daily dose of drugs, statistically significant difference was observed with antimicrobials, Antiepileptic, NSAIDs and antihistaminic.
Conclusions: There was significant difference in means of prescribed and standard doses of drugs in various groups, which was higher in PICU as compared to NICU. E-prescriptions can reduce Perhaps dosing error and will reduce drug induced adverse drug reactions in children.

Keywords: Clark’s formula, Dose calculation, Pediatric patients, PICU and NICU.

How to cite : Patel S , Prajapati A, An observational study to analyse the dose appropriateness of drugs prescribed in intensive care units of pediatric department. Indian J Pharm Pharmacol 2018;5(3):116-120

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