A Prospective Observational Study on the Prevalence and Prescription pattern with tropical and systemic formulation in dermatological disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67440/ahj.vi.2598Keywords:
Infectious dermatological diseases, Dermatology, Prescribing pattern, Dosage forms, Cost variation, antimicrobial drugs, Rational drug use.Abstract
Background: Infectious dermatological diseases are commonly encountered in clinical practice and may require antimicrobial, antifungal, topical, or systemic therapies. Variations in dosage forms and prices among available brands may influence treatment costs and contribute to the economic burden on patients. Therefore, evaluating prescribing patterns and cost variations is essential for promoting rational, effective, and affordable treatment. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in Salem, Tamil Nadu, from January 2025 to June 2025. A total of 100 patients with dermatological disorders were included based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic characteristics, prescribed medications, dosage forms, pharmacological drug classes, and medication costs were recorded. Cost variation was assessed by comparing the minimum and maximum prices of different brands of commonly prescribed dermatological medicines.
Results: Among the study population, patients aged 48–57 years constituted the largest age group (45%). Topical preparations were the most frequently prescribed dosage forms (50%), followed by solid preparations (45%) and parenteral preparations (5%). Antihistamines constituted the most frequently prescribed drug class (43%), followed by corticosteroids (30%), antibiotics (19%) and antifungals (8%). Considerable variation was observed in the prices of the commonly prescribed dermatological medicines. Levocetirizine showed the highest percentage cost variation among the analysed medicines (383.33%), whereas Betnovate showed the lowest cost variation (20.02%).
Conclusion: The study demonstrated considerable variation in prescribing patterns, dosage forms, and prices of commonly prescribed dermatological medicines. Identifying price variations and selecting appropriate and affordable brands may promote rational prescribing and help reduce the financial burden associated with dermatological treatment.
