Abstract
Drug utilization evaluation programme on third generationcephalosporin use in Khon Kean hospitalObjective: To assess the effect of the interventionnal programme (DUE and Education) on the inappropriate use of third generation cephalosporins in Khon-Kaen regional hospital. Design : Before-after experimental study. Setting : Three medical and six surgical of Khon-Kaen regional hospital. Partipants: Prescriptions of all hospitalized infectious patients, over 15 years of age, treated with third generation cephalosporins, were included. Intervention: The intervention programme was consisted of one educational convention, a standard criteria for appropriate cephalosporin usage and drug utilization evaluation (DUE) programme. Main outcome measure : The percentages of inappropriate use were compared with regarding to any of the following seven categories; no indication, no evidence of infection, other alternative drugs could be use due to culture and sensitivity, possibility of toxicity, improper dosage regimen, improper duration of treatment and economic reason. Results: Four hundred and seventeen prescriptions in pre-intervention period (1997, May-July) and one hundred and forty prescriptions in post-intervention period (1998, February-April) were evaluated for inappropriate use and compared. The percentages of inappropriate rational use all three cephalosporins were significantly decreased, from 62.6 to 40.0. And individually, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime from 65.4 to 39.7, 45.8 to 39.3 and 91.9 to 41.2 respectively.However, economic crisis of the country on the physician's prescribed behavior needed to be determined. Conclusion: The DUE programme in addition to physicians education could decrease the inappropriate use of third generation cephalosporins. Therefore, this may be applicable for other drugs and useful for other clinical institutes.
