Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 66 in total

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  1. Fulltext Antiepileptic drug utilisation and seizure outcome among paediatric patients in a Malaysian public hospital
    Hasan SS, Bahari MB, Babar ZU, Ganesan V
    Singapore Med J, 2010 Jan;51(1):21-7.
    PMID: 20200771
    INTRODUCTION: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilisation pattern and seizure outcome of newer and older antiepileptic drugs in paediatric clinical practice in a Malaysian hospital setting.
    METHODS: Over a two-month period, all paediatric epilepsy patients from Penang General Hospital, Malaysia who were diagnosed according to the classification of the International League Against Epilepsy were followed up prospectively, and the patients' information was gathered with the help of a validated data collection form. This included demographic characteristics, monotherapy and polytherapy of antiepileptic drugs, as well as the number of seizures experienced.
    RESULTS: Partial seizures, including complex and simple partial seizures (47.2 percent), followed by generalised seizures (40 percent), were the most common seizure types found in this study. An average of 1.51 antiepileptic drugs per patient was prescribed, with 54.3 percent of the patients on monotherapy and 45.7 percent on polytherapy. Overall, sodium valproate was the most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drug (36.8 percent), followed by carbamazepine (30.2 percent) and lamotrigine (10.4 percent). Carbamazepine was the most frequently prescribed monotherapy (28.6 percent), followed by sodium valproate (17.1 percent). The newer antiepileptic drugs were also found to be used as monotherapy in 7.2 percent of the cases. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the older and newer antiepileptic drugs in terms of the number of seizures experienced (p=0.027). Most (75 percent) of the seizure-free patients were on carbamazepine monotherapy.
    CONCLUSION: Monotherapy was the most frequently used remedy in all forms of epilepsy. Overall, sodium valproate was the most commonly used drug, while carbamazepine was found to be more frequently used as monotherapy. There was a significant difference found between the older and newer antiepileptic drugs, with 87.5 percent of seizure-free patients on older antiepileptic drugs.

    Study site: all paediatric epilepsy patients from Penang General Hospital
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  2. Fulltext Pattern of drug utilization in rural Malaysia
    Hasamnis AA, Patil SS, Narayan KA, Khan AR, Mohanty BK
    Ann Afr Med, 2010 Apr-Jun;9(2):106-7.
    PMID: 20587935 DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.64746
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization Review
  3. Substitution treatment in Malaysia
    Noordin NM, Merican MI, Rahman HA, Lee SS, Ramly R
    Lancet, 2008 Sep 27;372(9644):1149-50.
    PMID: 18926274 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61479-8
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  4. Fulltext Underutilization of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors among heart failure patients
    Lean QY, Shamsuddin N, Wan Ahmad WA
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Aug;63(3):216-21.
    PMID: 19248693 MyJurnal
    There are well-established guidelines regarding the use of Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) in the management of heart failure (HF). In-spite of that, many studies has documented underutilization of ACEI. Thus, this retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the utilization of ACEI, to identify the pattern of ACEI use and the factors that might contribute to underutilization of ACEI. The target population was hospitalized HF patients in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Of 321 hospitalized HF patients, only 57% of them were treated with ACEI. 51.2% of the patients treated with ACEI received low dose (< or = 25% from target dose) at discharge. Factors that have significant association with the underutilization of ACEI included serum potassium and creatinine, chronic renal failure and other concurrent medications used (frusemide, aspirin, potassium chloride, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers). The findings indicated that the utilization of ACEI in the management of HF in UMMC is considerably low.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  5. Fulltext Use of prescription medicines in Malaysia 2005
    Sarojini S, Faridah A, Lim CM, Sameerah SA, Lim TO, Lai LS, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Aug;63(3):203-6.
    PMID: 19248690 MyJurnal
    The National Medicines Use Survey (NMUS) which started in 2004 and is still ongoing was conducted with the intent to continuously and systematically collect data on the use of medicines, to provide an overview on the use of medicines in Malaysia. The objective of the NMUS is therefore to quantify the present state and time trends of medicines utilization at various levels of our health care system whether national, regional, local or institutional. From the data available, for the Year 2005, the most commonly used medicine in Malaysia were anti-diabetic medications, of which glibenclamide is the most common followed by metformin, were the top 2 of the list of drugs utilized in DDD/1000 population/day. Collectively, however, taking into account the various antihypertensives by therapeutic groups, anti-hypertensive medicines were more commonly used than anti-diabetics. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the two most prevalent chronic disorders in the country and thus, such high medicines utilization rates for these conditions are to be expected. From the general practice prescription data, it was estimated that a patient with hypertension was prescribed a median of only one (1) anti-hypertensive medication. This means, the vast majority of patients (81%) were on monotherapy, which is hardly sufficient to achieve treatment target. Clearly then, given the prevalence of hypertension, many patients were not on drug treatment at all, and of those treated, their drug treatment are likely to be inadequate.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data*
  6. Improving cancer pain management in Malaysia
    Lim R
    Oncology, 2008;74 Suppl 1:24-34.
    PMID: 18758194 DOI: 10.1159/000143215
    Within Malaysia's otherwise highly accessible public healthcare system, palliative medicine is still an underdeveloped discipline. Government surveys have shown that opioid consumption in Malaysia is dramatically lower than the global average, indicating a failure to meet the need for adequate pain control in terminally ill patients. Indeed, based on daily defined doses, only 24% of patients suffering from cancer pain receive regular opioid analgesia. The main barriers to effective pain control in Malaysia relate to physicians' and patients' attitudes towards the use of opioids. In one survey of physicians, 46% felt they lacked knowledge to manage patients with severe cancer pain, and 64% feared effects such as respiratory depression. Fear of addiction is common amongst patients, as is confusion regarding the legality of opioids. Additional barriers include the fact that no training in palliative care is given to medical students, and that smaller clinics often lack facilities to prepare and stock cheap oral morphine. A number of initiatives aim to improve the situation, including the establishment of palliative care departments in hospitals and implementation of post-graduate training programmes. Campaigns to raise public awareness are expected to increase patient demand for adequate cancer pain relief as part of good care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data
  7. Fulltext Klebsiella pneumoniae respiratory isolates from 2000 to 2004 in a Malaysian hospital: characteristics and relation to hospital antibiotics consumption
    Loh LC, Chin HK, Chong YY, Jeyaratnam A, Raman S, Vijayasingham P, et al.
    Singapore Med J, 2007 Sep;48(9):813-8.
    PMID: 17728961
    Klebsiella pneumoniae ranks high as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalised patients in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  8. Fulltext Over-prescription of antibiotics: both doctors and patients need education
    Norsa'adah B
    Med J Malaysia, 2007 Jun;62(2):181.
    PMID: 18705463
    Principally, there are two problems in prescribing . They are prescribing decision and prescribing writing process, which contribute to 39% and 61% of prescription problems respectively. The first type of problem has more serious consequences and may even cause mortality. In that study, the issue is the appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Over-prescribing of antibiotics in primary health care, especially for respiratory tract diseases is a problem worldwide . There are concerns about the rising prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, cost and the potentially harmful consequences of unnecessary prescription such as drug interaction and allergy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  9. Fulltext Antibiotic prescribing for childhood febrile illness by primary care doctors in Malaysia
    Teng CL, Hanafi NS, Ng CJ, Chia YC, Atiya AS
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2006 Oct;42(10):612-7.
    PMID: 16972968 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00937.x
    AIM: Fever in children, a mostly benign and self-limiting illness, is often viewed with consternation by the care givers. It results in early consultation and excessive use of antipyretics and antibiotics. In this study, we document the prescribing practice of doctors from three primary care settings in Malaysia and identify the predictors of antibiotic prescription.
    METHODS: Interview of care givers bringing febrile children (age = 12 years) to three primary care settings: public primary care clinics, private general practice clinics and a university-based primary care clinic.
    RESULTS: Data from 649 children were analysed. Mean age of children 4.1 years and 55% were boys. One-third of the children had prior consultation for the same episode of fever. About 80% of the febrile children were diagnosed to have upper respiratory tract infection, viral fever and gastroenteritis. Overall antibiotic prescribing rate was 36.6% (public primary care clinic 26.8%, private general practice clinic 70.0% and university-based primary care clinic 32.2%). Independent predictors of antibiotic prescription were: clinic setting, longer duration of fever (>7 days), higher temperature (>38 degrees C) and the diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infections. After controlling for demographic and clinical factors, antibiotic prescription in private general practice clinic was seven times higher than public primary care clinic (odds ratio 7.1, 95% confidence interval 4.0-12.7), and 1.6 times higher than university-based primary care clinic (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.0-2.5).
    CONCLUSION: Differences in the patients' demographic and clinical characteristics could not adequately explain the high antibiotic prescribing rate in private general practice clinics. This inappropriately high antibiotic prescribing for febrile children in private general practice clinics is a suitable target for future intervention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data
  10. Fulltext Evidence-based prescribing of statins: a developing world perspective
    Ong HT
    PLoS Med, 2006 Mar;3(3):e50.
    PMID: 16478294
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  11. Providing guidelines and education is not enough: an audit of gentamicin use at The Royal Melbourne Hospital
    Leong CL, Buising K, Richards M, Robertson M, Street A
    Intern Med J, 2006 Jan;36(1):37-42.
    PMID: 16409311
    BACKGROUND: Aminoglycoside antibiotics are commonly prescribed for the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Appropriate dosing and therapeutic monitoring of aminoglycosides are important because these agents have a narrow therapeutic index.
    AIM: To audit gentamicin use at our hospital, focusing on selection of the initial dose and therapeutic monitoring practices, and to compare the results against recommendations in the existing hospital aminoglycoside guidelines, which had recently been promoted to doctors.
    METHODS: This audit included all inpatients receiving gentamicin at The Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1 February to 12 March 2004. The principal researcher checked the drug charts of all inpatients to identify those receiving gentamicin and collected data from the medical records and the pathology database. Doses were considered 'concordant' if the dose given was within the recommended dosing range +/-20 mg.
    RESULTS: A total of 132 courses of gentamicin was included in the study. Gentamicin was prescribed for prophylaxis in 31.1% of courses. Thirty-six per cent of patients prescribed gentamicin were more than 65 years of age. Eighty-two per cent of the gentamicin used therapeutically was given as a single daily dose. Sixty-six per cent of gentamicin initial dosing was not in accordance with existing hospital guidelines. Seventy-seven per cent of gentamicin courses requiring therapeutic drug monitoring received such monitoring; however, in only 8.8% of these was the monitoring conducted according to guidelines.
    CONCLUSION: Aminoglycoside prescribing practices at our hospital are suboptimal, despite ready access to prescribing guidelines. Provision of a guideline and education sessions with doctors do not necessarily lead to widespread adoption of recommended practices. We suggest that changes to hospital systems related to prescribing and monitoring of aminoglycosides are required.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization Review*
  12. What doctors know about cancer pain management: an exploratory study in Sarawak, Malaysia
    Devi BC, Tang TS, Corbex M
    J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother, 2006;20(2):15-22.
    PMID: 16702132
    Effective cancer pain management is influenced by the attitudes and knowledge of treating physicians. A survey was conducted among the total population of government hospital doctors of Sarawak to study the barriers to cancer pain management. Two hundred and fifty-three respondents (83%) completed the survey. The study results highlight that knowledge about cancer pain management was low and barriers to morphine prescription were high. A majority of doctors were deterred from using morphine because of fear of addiction (36.5%) and respiratory depression (53.1%). Only 16.2% of the doctors chose the oral mode of administration to treat pain, furthermore 25% prescribed morphine on "PRN" basis. Doctors with undergraduate study in oncology consistently answered better suggesting that the situation can be improved by education. This study showed that barriers to morphine prescription and knowledge deficit amongst government doctors in Sarawak are strong but similar to those reported in western countries few years ago.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  13. The use of lamotrigine and other antiepileptic drugs in paediatric patients at a Malaysian hospital
    Ab Rahman AF, Ibrahim MI, Ismail HI, Seng TB
    Pharm World Sci, 2005 Oct;27(5):403-6.
    PMID: 16341748
    OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the effect of lamotrigine add-on therapy on the seizure frequency and cost in paediatric patients. (2) To determine the prescribing pattern of other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

    METHOD: A retrospective study of medical records was carried out from October 2000 to June 2001 at the paediatric clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Seizure frequency, cost of drug and types of AED prescribed.

    RESULTS: A total of 209 medical records were retrieved during the study period. Lamotrigine (LTG) was prescribed in 29 patients as add-on therapy. In 18 patients, there was a significant reduction in seizure frequency after the addition of LTG. Approximately 70% experienced a reduction in seizure frequency of more than 50%. Side effects of LTG were considered mild and manageable. However, drug cost after the addition of LTG increased by 103%. In the remaining 180 patients, the most common AED prescribed was sodium valproate (VPA). Only 15% of the patients received combination therapy. Mean monthly cost of monotherapy was found to be RM 24.4 while monthly cost of combination therapy was RM 45.4 (1 Euro-RM 5.00).

    CONCLUSION: The majority of paediatric patients in the study are on AED monotherapy and only a small percentage was prescribed lamotrigine. The use of lamotrigine is associated with better seizure control but with an increase in drug cost.

    Study site: paediatric clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  14. Appropriate antibiotic administration in elective surgical procedures: still missing the message
    Gul YA, Hong LC, Prasannan S
    Asian J Surg, 2005 Apr;28(2):104-8.
    PMID: 15851363
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis in selected elective surgical procedures in a tertiary referral centre.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study using retrospective data from January 2000 to May 2002 was performed pertaining to elective colorectal surgery, cholecystectomy and inguinal hernia repairs. Appropriateness of antibiotic administration was determined based on compliance with national and internationally accepted guidelines on prophylactic antibiotic prescribing policy. A single dose or omission of antibiotic administration was judged appropriate for cholecystectomy and inguinal hernia repair, while up to 24 hours' dosing was considered appropriate practice for colorectal surgery.

    RESULTS: Of 419 cases, there were 55 (13.1%) colorectal procedures, 97 (23.2%) cholecystectomies and 267 (63.7%) inguinal hernia repairs. Antibiotics were administered in a total of 306 (73%) cases, with single-dose prophylaxis in only 125 (41%) of these. Prophylaxis was inappropriately prolonged in 80%, 52% and 31% of colorectal, cholecystectomy and inguinal hernia cases, respectively. The corresponding mean duration of anti-biotic administration was 2.4+/-2.2, 1.6+/-1.8 and 1.1+/-1.3 days, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis in elective surgery continues to be administered haphazardly. This study supports close surveillance of antibiotic utilization by a dedicated team, perhaps consisting of microbiologists or pharmacists, to minimize inappropriate administration.

    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization Review*
  15. Asthma prescribing practices of government and private doctors in Malaysia--a nationwide questionnaire survey
    Loh LC, Wong PS
    Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2005 Mar;23(1):7-17.
    PMID: 15997869
    A self-answered, anonymously completed questionnaire survey was performed between June 2002 and May 2003 where doctors from government and private sectors in Malaysia were invited to participate by post or during medical meetings. One hundred and sixteen government doctors and 110 private doctors provided satisfactorily completed questionnaires (effective respondent rate: 30.1%). The most preferred medications for 'first-line', 'second-line' and 'third-line' treatment were for government doctors: inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) (98%), inhaled corticosteroids (CS) (75%), and leukotriene antagonist (52%); and for private doctors: oral SABA (81%), inhaled CS (68%), and oral CS (58%). The first choice inhaler device for most government and private doctors were metered dose inhalers, with cost and personal preferences (for private doctors), and technical ability (for government doctors) as the key considerations when deciding on the choice of device. This benchmark data on the asthma prescribing practices of a healthcare delivery system fully dichotomized into government and private sector, provides evidence for practice differences affected by the nature of the healthcare system, and might have implications on healthcare systems of other countries that share similarities with that of Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data
  16. Prevalence of nosocomial infection and antibiotic use at a university medical center in Malaysia
    Hughes AJ, Ariffin N, Huat TL, Abdul Molok H, Hashim S, Sarijo J, et al.
    Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2005 Jan;26(1):100-4.
    PMID: 15693416
    Most reports of nosocomial infection (NI) prevalence have come from developed countries with established infection control programs. In developing countries, infection control is often not as well established due to lack of staff and resources. We examined the rate of NI in our institution.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization Review/statistics & numerical data*
  17. Fulltext General and URTI-specific antibiotic prescription rates in a Malaysian primary care setting
    Teng CL, Achike FI, Phua KL, Norhayati Y, Nurjahan MI, Nor AH, et al.
    Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2004 Nov;24(5):496-501.
    PMID: 15519484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2004.06.015
    Antibiotic prescribing by primary care doctors has received renewed interest due to the continuing emergence of antibiotic resistance and the attendant cost to healthcare. We examined the antibiotic prescribing rate in relation to selected socio-demographic characteristics of the prescribers at the Seremban Health Clinic, a large public primary care clinic, designated for teaching, in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Data were obtained from: (1) retrospective review of prescriptions for the month of June 2002 and (2) a questionnaire survey of prescribers. A total of 10667 prescriptions were reviewed. The overall antibiotic prescribing rate was 15%; the rate (16%) was higher for the general Outpatient Department (OPD) than the 3% for the Maternal & Child Health Clinic (MCH). The antibiotic prescription rates for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) were 26% and 16%, respectively, for the OPD and MCH. Half of all the antibiotic prescriptions were for URTI making prescribing for URTI an appropriate target for educational intervention. The URTI-specific antibiotic prescription rate did not correlate with the prescribers' intention to specialise, patient load, perceived patient's expectation for an antibiotic, or the score for knowledge of streptococcal tonsillitis. Prescribing behaviours and record-keeping practices requiring correction were identified.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data*
  18. Impact of pharmacist recommendations on the cost of drug therapy in ICU patients at a Malaysian hospital
    Zaidi ST, Hassan Y, Postma MJ, Ng SH
    Pharm World Sci, 2003 Dec;25(6):299-302.
    PMID: 14689820
    To analyse clinical pharmacists interventions in the ICU of the Penang General Hospital (Penang, Malaysia) and to assess the pharmaco-economic impact of these interventions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization Review/economics*
  19. Fulltext Pre-admission management of acute gastroenteritis in children: too much or too little?
    Lee WS, Lee SP, Boey CCM
    Med J Malaysia, 1999 Mar;54(1):22-5.
    PMID: 10972000
    Two hundred and ninety five children admitted with acute gastroenteritis from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 to the Paediatric unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, were reviewed. Eighty-nine percent of children received treatment before admission. Information regarding the type of treatment received were available in 152 (52%) cases. Eighty percent of them were prescribed medications, 40% were prescribed glucose-electrolyte mixtures, and 13% were advised a change of formula. Only 18 children (12%) were advised to take glucose-electrolyte mixtures alone. The four most common prescribed drugs were: antibiotics (43%), antipyretics (39%), antidiarrhoeal agents (30%), and antiemetics (24%). The use of antibiotics, antiemetics and antidiarrhoeal drugs for children with acute gastroenteritis among primary care doctors appears to be common. The use of glucose-electrolyte mixtures was uncommon.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
  20. Fulltext Patterns of post-operative analgesic usage in adults and children
    Rus-Anida A, Quah BS
    Med J Malaysia, 1998 Sep;53(3):204-8.
    PMID: 10968154
    There appears to be a general tendency towards under-usage of analgesics not only in children but also in adults. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of analgesic usage in adults and children admitted for major intra-abdominal surgery. All patients who had intra-abdominal surgery at University Science Malaysia Hospital (USM Hospital) from 1st January to 31st March 1995 were included in the study. Children were patients of 12 years and below and adults were patients above 12 years of age. Data including age, sex, weight, type of analgesics used, the number of patients who had analgesics ordered and administered post-operatively were obtained from the patients' medical record. A total of 48 children and 67 adults were studied. Narcotic analgesics were the most common analgesics ordered both in adults (95.5%) and in children (97%). Post-operative analgesics were ordered significantly more often for adults 67 (100%) than for children 33 (69%) (p < 0.0001). In adults, 70% of patients who had analgesics ordered post-operatively had their analgesics administered, but in children only 39.4% of patients had their analgesics administered (p < 0.001). The most common route of administration was intramuscular in both adults (95.5%) and children (88%). Analgesics were more likely to be administered in the intensive care units (100%) than in the surgical wards (60%) (p = 0.049). Elective or emergency surgery and the time of day when surgery was performed did not affect the frequency of analgesics ordered or administered. In summary, children in this hospital had less analgesics ordered and administered following intra-abdominal surgery compared to adults. The results of this study imply that increased attention should be given to relieve postoperative pain with analgesic drugs in children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Utilization
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