Pattern of Drug Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Observational Study

Drug utilization studies focus on how medicines are prescribed in real world clinical practice. These studies provide insights into rationality of drug use and can guide improvement in prescribing practices. There is paucity of data regarding medicine use in neonatal ICUs from India. The aim is to study the pattern of drug utilization in NICU using WHO core prescribing indicators. A prospective observational study will be conducted over a period of 12 months in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of our hospital. Study related data will be extracted from the medication charts after obtaining written informed consent from the parent/guardian. Data will be analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics.The study will generate data on current trends of medicine use in neonates. This data can be used to analyze rationality of drug use and identify future research priorities in neonates.