A cross-sectional study of patients’ morbidity profiles and doctors’ drug prescribing patterns from outpatient departments of a community health centre from a district of Uttarakhand
- 1Department of Community Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Abstract
Introduction:: A study of the pattern of disease occurrence provides inputs for diagnosis and treatment, and is a tool for administrators and policy makers. Periodic prescription analysis increases treatment effectiveness, provides feedback and decreases adverse effects.
Materials and Methods:: All patients attending the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the selected community health centre during the study period were included. A study of daily OPD records was done for morbidity pattern and its associated factors. Patient interview and prescription analysis of every second patient in each OPD, till a maximum cap of ten patients per OPD was reached, was done.
Results:: The study included 9631 patients [5316 (55.2%) females and 4315 (44.8%) males]. The highest age frequency was in the 20–29 year age group (2198, 22.8%). Maximum patients were diagnosed with infections (1405, 14.6%), followed by digestive disorders (1144, 11.9%). Six thousand five hundred thirty (67.8%) patients had single morbidity, 2267 (23.5%) had two comorbidities and 834 (8.7%) had more than two comorbidities.
Conclusion:: Certain infections and parasitic diseases were diagnosed; diseases of the digestive system (International Classification of Diseases 11th revision) were highest. Use of generic drugs, medicines from the National Essential Medicines List and legibility of handwriting were lower. Locally prevalent diseases were significantly associated with sex and solar calendar months.
Related
- Real-world antidepressant prescribing patterns in outpatient care: a cross-sectional analysis
- Clinical outcomes and cost analysis of elective spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers versus hospital outpatient departments: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Who carries the cost of interruptions? A qualitative study of doctors in UK hospital outpatient departments
- Unplanned Inpatient Admission After Intended Outpatient Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair: Precautionary Monitoring or Clinically Relevant Morbidity?
- How should doctors manage workplace interruptions? A qualitative study in UK hospital outpatient departments
BibTeX
@article{ohri2026crosssectional,
title = {{A cross-sectional study of patients’ morbidity profiles and doctors’ drug prescribing patterns from outpatient departments of a community health centre from a district of Uttarakhand}},
author = {Puneet Ohri and Megha Luthra and Mohd. Anshar and Sachin Kumar},
journal = {Journal of family medicine and primary care},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1208_25},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13722245},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A cross-sectional study of patients’ morbidity profiles and doctors’ drug prescribing patterns from outpatient departments of a community health centre from a district of Uttarakhand
AU - Puneet Ohri
AU - Megha Luthra
AU - Mohd. Anshar
AU - Sachin Kumar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of family medicine and primary care
DO - 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1208_25
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13722245
AB - Introduction:: A study of the pattern of disease occurrence provides inputs for diagnosis and treatment, and is a tool for administrators and policy makers. Periodic prescription analysis increases treatment effectiveness, provides feedback and decreases adverse effects. Materials and Methods:: All patients attending the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the selected community health centre during the study period were included. A study of daily OPD records was done for morbidity pattern and its associated factors. Patient interview and prescription analysis of every second patient in each OPD, till a maximum cap of ten patients per OPD was reached, was done. Results:: The study included 9631 patients [5316 (55.2%) females and 4315 (44.8%) males]. The highest age frequency was in the 20–29 year age group (2198, 22.8%). Maximum patients were diagnosed with infections (1405, 14.6%), followed by digestive disorders (1144, 11.9%). Six thousand five hundred thirty (67.8%) patients had single morbidity, 2267 (23.5%) had two comorbidities and 834 (8.7%) had more than two comorbidities. Conclusion:: Certain infections and parasitic diseases were diagnosed; diseases of the digestive system (International Classification of Diseases 11th revision) were highest. Use of generic drugs, medicines from the National Essential Medicines List and legibility of handwriting were lower. Locally prevalent diseases were significantly associated with sex and solar calendar months.
SN - 2249-4863
SN - 2278-7135
ER -