Abstract
Background: Prescribing drugs are an important skill which needs to be continuously assessed and refined accordingly. Many drugs especially antimicrobials and fixed dose combinations that maybe irrational are being prescribed. Hence, this study was undertaken to analyze the rational prescribing guidelines in post-operative patients which will help doctors to update their knowledge and improve their attitude toward selecting cost effective treatment.

Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: (i) To evaluate prevailing prescription trends and (ii) to evaluate rationality of prescriptions in post-operative cases of surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, and gynecology (OBG), and Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) departments.

Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in post-operative wards of departments of surgery, orthopedics, ORL, and OBG of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru. The study duration was 15 months from December 2018 to March 2020 with a sample size of 2000.

Results: In the present study, female preponderance (54.4%) was seen. Majority of the drugs (77.3%) were prescribed under brand name. The most common group of drugs prescribed was non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (135%) and the antibiotic was Cephalosporins (77.5%). As per the World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators, 6.25 were the average drugs per prescription.

Conclusion: According to the WHO core prescribing indicators, polypharmacy was observed and prescribing by generic name was also less. However, there was no irrational use of antibiotics in post-operative cases in our study which reduces the chances of development of antibiotic resistance. Practice of prescribing drugs from the essential drugs list (EDL) was less. The study suggests incorporating educative initiative, development of drug policy, and an EDL-based hospital formulary to ensure rational use of medicines.

Key words: WHO Core Indicators; Post-operative Cases; Drug Utilization Studies