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Survey of "Off‐ Label" Drug Use in Pediatric Department of a Teaching Hospital ‐ A Prospective Study
Author(s) -
Patel Kamlesh Prahladbhai,
Panchal Dhaval J.,
Patel Varsha J.,
Bhavsar Rekha H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.757.3
Subject(s) - medicine , off label use , formulary , medical prescription , drug , prospective cohort study , drug utilization review , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , emergency medicine , pharmacology
Objective : To detect extent of off label drug use in pediatric outpatients and to correlate different variables of patients. Method : The data of 400 patients were collected prospectively in a proforma during one year study period. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification was used for the prescribed drugs. The drugs were ascribed off label status in different categories using standard references. The data were analyzed with Epi Info 2002 software. The χ2 test was used and value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result : Out of total 1744 drug prescriptions, 39.73% were prescribed in off label manner and 63% patients received at least one or more off label drug prescription. Use in child of inappropriate age, administration in sub therapeutic doses and in high doses were responsible for off label use of drugs. Antiemetics, antianemics, nasal preparations, vitamins and drugs for obstructive airway disease were commonly prescribed in off label manner. Infectious diseases, neonates and infants were the risk factors for being prescribed a drug in off label manner. Conclusion Off label use of drugs is highly prevalent in pediatric practice. Greater emphasis on pediatric prescribing in Pharmacology curriculum, continuous medical education programmes for practitioners and availability of updated National Formulary may help in improvement. Research support ‐ none.