A STUDY ON DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN, DRUG INTERACTION AND EVALUATION OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG SMOKING AND NON-SMOKING CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE PATIENTS IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

The aim of the study is to assess the Drug Prescribing Pattern, Drug Interaction and Evaluation of Medication Adherence among Smoking and Non-smoking Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. The primary objectives of the study is to access the drug prescribing pattern, and to determine various etiologies in non-smoker COPD patients.This study identifies drug interactions based on their severity and medication adherence in smoker and non-smoker patients. A Prospective, Observational and Hospital based study was conducted on patients admitted in a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of 6 months.Data regarding patient’s demographic details, the prescription of the patient who are treated during the course of the study are audited prospectively using a specifically predesigned proforma. The study reveals that males(51.33%) were more likely to have COPD in which majority of patients were nonsmoker (68%)above 60 years of age. Among all medications the major class of drugs prescribed were Antibiotics, Bronchodilator,Corticosteroids and least were Antitussives. The present study concluded that proportion of nonsmoker COPD patients are higher than smokers due to multiple risk factor in which outdoor air pollution was the most leading factor. Most of the patients have low motivation and low knowledge.The major reasons for medication non-compliance were felt better and stopped, forget to take and refill. The study also reveals improving medication adherence among individuals with COPD is critical to optimising patient outcomes. By providing effective counselling, medication adherence to the treatment can be achieved.