Prevalence and Patterns of Non-Doctor Prescription Practices in Urban Field Practice Area of Dharwad
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ja3rsf63Keywords:
Non-doctor prescription, Prevalence, Systematic random samplingAbstract
Background: The dearth of quality of care in many tribal and remote rural areas of the country has led to non-doctor prescription practices. Non-qualified personnel prescribing can result in drug resistance and wrong use of drugs.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence and patterns of non-doctor prescription practices in Urban field practice area of SDMCMSH, Dharwad
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among adults of urban field practice area, SDMCMSH, Dharwad. An estimated sample size of 335 was selected using systematic random sampling. All eligible subjects were interviewed through pre-tested questionnaire.
Results: The prevalence of non-doctor prescription practices was 42 (12.5%). Herbal practitioners 16 (38.09%) and nurses 12 (28.57%) were major non-doctors prescribing in community. Faith 13 (30.95%) and easy accessibility 7 (16.66%) were the reasons for consulting non-doctor.
Conclusion: Around one in ten adults seek non-doctor for consultation. Herbal remedies were also prescribed along with allopathic medicine. Non-accessibility and non-availability of qualified doctors can increase this practice in near future.
References
Weeks G, George J, Maclure K, Stewart D. Non-medical prescribing versus medical prescribing for acute and chronic disease management in primary and secondary care. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;11.
Chaaban T, Ahouah M, Nasser W, Hijazi W, Lombrail P, Morvillers J-M, et al. Nurses’ role in medical prescription: Systematic review. Journal of Nurse. 2018;5:2.
Shankar PR, Partha P, Shenoy N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: a questionnaire-based study. BMC Fam Pract. 2002;3:17.
Gupta p, Bobhateps, Shrivastava sr. Determinants of self-medication practices in an urban slum community. 2011;4:54-57.
MoHFW. FAQs on National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2019. 2019. Available at: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1581325. [last accessed on 12.10.2020]
The print. As India struggles with doctor shortage, govt gives a push to nurse-led clinics. 2018. Available at: https://theprint.in/india/governance/as-india-struggles-with-doctor-shortage-govt-gives-a-push-to-nurse-led-clinics/118535/. [last accessed on 12.10.2020]
Drennan VM, Grant RL, Harris R. Trends over time in prescribing by English primary care nurses: a secondary analysis of a national prescription database. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014;14:54
Courtenay M, Gerada C, Haywood J. Working with non-medical prescribers. Br J Gen Pract. 2011;61:85–6.
Maier CB. Nurse prescribing of medicines in 13 European countries. Hum Resour Health. 2019;17:95
The week. Amendment to NMC bill will enable nurses to prescribe medicines.2018. Available at: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/05/14/amendments-nmc-bill-nurses-prescribe-medicines.html. [last accessed on 30 June 2020]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Arpitha V S, Pushpa S Patil

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en