A pilot study of variability in the pattern of antibacterial medicines dispensed during different timings of a month in private and public sector pharmacies

Abstract

Objectives: (i) To determine the inter-timing variation in the pattern of antibacterial medicines (ABM) dispensed during a month, and (ii) to examine the correlation between the amount of ABM dispensed in each timing and the amount of total ABM dispensed during the entire month in Private and Public Sector Pharmacies in Colombo District.

Methods: Data on 30 prescriptions containing an oral ABM for systemic use dispensed in randomly selected one public hospital out patients pharmacy, one private pharmacy, one Osusala pharmacy and one private hospital OPD pharmacy were personally collected in the beginning, middle and end of June 2012. Data on oral ABM dispensed during the entire month were obtained from the records. Quantity of ABM was converted to Defined Daily Doses (DDD).  Data were analysed separately for each of the different study setting.

Results: There was no inter-timing variation in the pattern of ABM dispensed during a month in any of the sector. However, the correlation between the amount of ABM dispensed in each timing and the amount of total ABM dispensed during the entire month gave varying results indicating that the amount of ABM dispensed in a month cannot be predicted from data collected in one of the timings.

Conclusion: Data collected at any time of the month could predict the pattern of ABM utilization, but not the quantity in DDD of ABM utilization in a month.