Drug utilization in internal medicine wards at a teaching hospital serving a developing community

Drug utilization, i.e. prescribing, was investigated in four general internal medicine wards at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, the main teaching hospital for the Medical University of Southern Africa. Survey forms for computer processing were designed to cover important patient parameters (including diagnosis) and to classify drugs into the most frequently used therapeutic groups. There were 154 patients in the survey which took place over a 2-week period in July 1983. Analysis of the diagnosis data showed that cardiovascular disorders (34,4% of the total) and infectious and parasitic diseases (29,2%) predominated. Data for drugs prescribed revealed a preponderance of anti-infective agents (29,7%), diuretics (12,0%), cardiovascular preparations (10,5%) and respiratory medicines (8,1%). The predominant two disease groups and four drug groups were subjected to further analysis. Detailed results which cover specific disease entities and individual drugs are presented. A clear picture of the respective disease patterns and drugs prescribed has emerged. The implications are discussed with reference to the population which the hospital serves, therapeutic needs and medical education.