The prescribing pattern of oral anti-diabetic regimen among type 2 diabetic patients in Out Patient Pharmacy, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan

Introduction: Prescribing pattern is a measurement of drug use in health facilities not only describes drug use patterns and prescribing behaviour but also helps to identify factors associated with the practice of poly-pharmacy. Prescribing pattern is important to ensure the rational drug prescribed. Rational drug prescribing is to determine the use of the least number of drugs to obtain the best possible effect in the shortest period and at a reasonable cost. Besides, the rational of this study is to determine the most preferred metformin combination among physicians or doctors in HUSM. It is likely that a range of interventions is needed, including increasing education and guidance on medication prescribing pattern.

Method: A sample selection of this study is retrospective while a data collection is based on the cross- sectional study that have been conducted within 2 months. The study are done among the previous collected prescription in out-patient pharmacy of the hospital to collect data analysis.

Result: Most of type 2 diabetic patients (n=236) received combination therapy while 145 patients have been prescribed with monotherapy of anti-diabetic agent. The most preferred prescribed combination therapy were metformin + sulfonylurea (n=195). The highest combination of anti-diabetic drug in this study is combination of two drugs (n=203).

Conclusion: The most number of patients who have been prescribed with anti-diabetic agents in HUSM Kelantan from May to June 2014 are female, in the range of 51-60 years old, co-morbid with hypertension and hyperlipidemia and Malay. Metformin immediate release (IR) was the most prescribed compared to Metformin extended release (XR). Combination of metformin and sulfonylureas were the most frequently prescribed.