Prescription Pattern of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs in a Family Practice Clinic at Jordan University Hospital

Objective: To study the pattern of prescribing of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in a family practice clinic at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan.Materials and Methods: Review of files for prescribed drugs in the Family Practice Clinic at Jordan University Hospital during the period 28/03/2008- 18/07/2008. Files at the end of the clinic session were collected and reviewed for prescriptions.Results: A total of 2027 patient files were reviewed, 343 (16.9%) of which contained NSAIDs. The number of drugs per prescription ranged from 1-12 (mean ± SD, 3.1 ± 1.9), with 67% of prescriptions containing 3 or less drugs. Proprietary drug names were used in 89.5% of prescriptions. Diclofenac was the most frequently prescribed NSAID (44.9%), followed by aspirin (30.3%) and proprionic acid derivatives (15.2%). One fourth (90) of the files containing NSAIDs prescriptions belonged to females in chilf-bearing age. In most cases, diclofenac and proprionic acid derivatives were prescribed for musculoskeletal disorders followed by infections, while aspirin was prescribed mostly for cardiovascular disorders.Conclusions: With some exceptions, the pattern of prescriptions of NSAIDs is fairly appropriate. Diclofenac was irrationally and overused as it was prescribed for infections, and inappropriately used in patients with bronchial asthma. These drugs were prescribed for women in child-bearing age. Proprietary drug names were used in the majority of prescriptions. The strength of medications, frequency of administration and duration of therapy were missing in some of the prescriptions. Continued medical education on rational prescribing seems necessary.