Prescribing patterns for acute respiratory infections in children in primary health care centers, Makkah Al Mukarrama, Saudi Arabia

4^th Global Acupuncture & Therapists Annual Meeting and International Conference on Holistic Medicine & Holistic Nursing

July 14-16, 2016 Philadelphia, USA

Shaheen MH, Siddiqui MI, Jokhdar HA, Hussein AH, Garout MA, Alshareef MM, Falemban AM, Hafiz SM, Neveen AA and Nermeen AA

Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Altern Integr Med

Abstract :

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are considered as the leading cause for morbidity and mortality in several developing countries including Saudi Arabia. Though majority of cases are viral, three-quarters of antibiotics consumed is for ARIs, which has contributed to the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, serious side effects and a significant waste of health care resources. This study was conducted to observe the pattern of physician prescriptions, to determine their practices related to ARI management and compliance to WHO protocols, and to provide recommendations to enhance their practices in primary health care. Material & Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in Primary Health Care centers of Makkah Al Mukarrama, Saudi Arabia. We selected 908 prescriptions of 28 practitioners of public and private sectors and compared the prescription with WHO recommended guidelines for acute respiratory tract infection, after taking their consent. Ethical approval was obtained from the Umm Al-Qura Medical College ethical committee. Result: There were 522 male (57.5%) and 386 female (42.5%) children. It was found that weight, pulse rate, temperature and respiratory rates were not recorded in 224 (24.7%), 306 (33.7%), 144 (15.9%) and 326 (35.9%) cases. In 172 cases (19%) no diagnosis was mentioned. Antibiotics were prescribed in 465 (51%) cases while most of the cases were of simple cold, where antibiotics are not recommended. Conclusion: Many physicians in Makkah Mukurramah are not following WHO recommended guidelines. Training program should be organized to sensitize the physicians regarding the appropriate method of diagnosis and rationale use of antibiotic.

Biography :

Shaheen MH is a 6th-year medical student at Faculty of Medicine Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He is interested in researches and has five researches as a co-author and three as a data collector. He has presented three researches as oral presentations at three different conferences. He is the Head and Vice-head of Scientific Committee at Medical Students’ Club for 2 consecutive years. He is a trainer in musculoskeletal examination workshops at conference and other coming events. He is the Head of the Student Coordinating Committee for the student mentoring center.

Email: M1shaheen1@gmail.com