Anil Sah - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Anil Sah

Background: Four federal government universities, two state government universities and two healt... more Background: Four federal government universities, two state government universities and two health science academies are conducting bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharm) program in 27 pharmacy colleges with the enrollment of 815 students in academic year 2023/24. Tribhuvan University is adopting year system where as all other seven universities and academies are adopting eight semester's system. The curricula of all pharmacy institution vary with the priority in different areas of pharmacy practice. Objective: To compare the content of existing and available text-based documents describing curricular contents provided by all Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) course conducting institutions of Nepal. Method: The present curriculums of the universities were requested from the four Departments of Pharmacy of the respective university and health science academies where authors are not affiliated. Individual pharmacy council's regulations were downloaded adopting narrow topic search for the respective country's pharmacy council name. Curriculum's subject labels together with academic credits or contact hours were retrieved from the collected documents. This exploratory study employed analysis of curriculums content of existing and available text-based documents describing curricular contents provided by all institutions. Subjects are divided into three categories: Basic sciences (basic chemistry, mathematics, algebra, calculus, computer and python program), basic medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, biochemistry and microbiology) core subjects (pharmacognosy, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutics, medicinal/ pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, herbal drugs, hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy). Results: Total 4 years or 8 semester's credits of B Pharmacy course vary from 148 credits of Kathmandu University to 174 credits of Trribhuvan University. Maximum practical load is 31.75% with Karnali Academy of Health Sciences and lowest 11.00% with Pokhara University. The practical load is below 20% in the curriculum of Pokhara University, Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University (KU). Total 21.60% (32 credits out of 148 credits) is allocated in KU only for basic sciences where as Pokhara University spending 20.50% (34 credits out of 166 credits). In KU first year is common with engineering students and in Pokhara University "Chemical Name Reaction" is taught in 5 th semester. In Trribhuvan University curriculum basic sciences are totally neglected and only 5% (9 credits out of 174 credits). Other pharmacy college like PU 12.90% (22 credits out of 170 credits), KAHS 10.24% (17 credits out of 166) and MTU 8.54% (14 credits out of 164) respectively. Conclusion: We found large variation in Pharmacy Curricula of Nepalese Education Institutions. Competency based curriculum are necessary for the fulfillment of the demand of qualified pharmacy manpower for the safeguard of the public health. Harmonization of the curricula is desirable for uniform pharmacy education in the country.

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Di... more Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetics are at a higher risk of polypharmacy and more vulnerable to irrational prescription. Data regarding drug use pattern in diabetes is lacking in South Asian countries. Objectives: The present study was conducted with the objectives of collecting the demographic details of diabetes patients, studying the pattern of drug prescribing among diabetic outpatients, calculating the mean prescription cost for the diabetes patients and analysing the prescriptions according to prescribing indicators. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Outpatient Pharmacy (OPP), Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, from 22nd August to 7th December 2006. All the diabetes patients who visited the OPP during the study period were enrolled after getting verbal consent and interviewed by the researchers, based on the study objectives. The details were entered in the structured patient profile form, and the filled forms were analysed. Results: Altogether 182 patients, 103 males (56.59%) and 79 females (43.41%), were enrolled. Among these, 69 (37.91%) were in the age group 51-60 years, 128 (70.33%) had a diabetic history of less than 5 years and 136 (74.72%) had at least one concurrent illness. Two, three and four drugs were prescribed in 39 (21.43%), 35 (19.23%) and 40 (21.98%) patients, respectively. Altogether, 685 drugs were prescribed with an average of 3.76 drugs per prescription. Antidiabetics were accounted for 314 (45.84%) of the total drugs. Among the various antidiabetics, biguanides were accounted for 161 (51.27%) of the total antidiabetic medications. Among the study patients, 28 (15.38%) had an encounter with an injection prescribed and 16 (2.34%) of the total drugs were fixed-dose combinations and 0.88% (n = 6) of the drugs were antibiotics. The duration of prescription of medicines ranges from 29 to 35 days for 41.17% (n = 282) of the total drugs and 57 to 63 days for 44.23% (n = 303) drugs. Majority [650 (94.89%)] of the drugs were prescribed in oral dosage form. The average cost per prescription was NPR 1156.15 (US $16.17). Antidiabetic medications constituted 58.93% of the total cost. Among the antidiabetic medications insulin accounted for 41.07% of the total cost followed by biguanides (32.60%). Conclusions: Insulin and biguanides were the most commonly prescribed antidiabetics. Our study was done for a short period of time, and the number of patients studied was low. Hence, similar studies covering large number of patients are needed to confirm our findings.

Archives of Pharmacy Practice, 2011

Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021

Background: Periodic assessment of morbidity and drug use at various levels of healthcare deliver... more Background: Periodic assessment of morbidity and drug use at various levels of healthcare delivery system is important to recognize common prevalent morbidities and rationalize the use of medicines. The study was conducted to determine the common morbidities and audit prescription using WHO prescribing indicator in government operated tertiary hospitals of eastern Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in government tertiary hospitals of Province 1, Nepal, from March 2019 to August 2019. For analysis, descriptive statistics were used. Prescribing characteristics were evaluated using recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. Results: Six hundred prescriptions were analyzed. The most prevalent morbidity was endocrine, nutrition & metabolic diseases (21.5%) followed by diseases of the respiratory system (19.8%), circulatory system (17.6%), and digestive system (12.8%). The most frequently encountered individual disease entit...

Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Background: Antibiotics are generally prescribed for both prophylactically and to treat ongoing i... more Background: Antibiotics are generally prescribed for both prophylactically and to treat ongoing infections in the orthopedic department. Assessment of prescribing pattern at regular interval is essential to avoid inappropriate use of drugs. Objectives: To know the utilization pattern of antibiotics and drug related problems like adverse drug reactions (ADR) and drug-drug interactions (DDI) in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospitalized patients using WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology for one month duration in orthopedic department at a tertiary hospital. Standard data collection forms were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used for analyzing the data. Results: Out of 196, most of patients (72.96%) were male and most of patients (34.69%) were from the age group 21-30 years. A total of 782 drugs were prescribed during study period and among them 262 were antibiotic...

Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences

Objective: To analyze the clinical profile of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) ... more Objective: To analyze the clinical profile of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH) at Pokhara, Nepal, identify the commonly prescribed drugs, drug categories, dosage forms, antimicrobials, sensitivity pattern of antimicrobials and the treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study in which he case records of all the patients admitted in the ICU during 1st August to 30 th September, 2007 were collected and the details were entered in the patient profile form. The filled patient profile forms were retrospectively analyzed as per the study objectives. Results: Altogether, 201 patients [males 101 (50.25%)] were admitted. Most common diagnosis was 'Myocardial Infarction /Ischemic heart disease' [13.96 % (n=62)]. The median (interquartile range) of the ICU stay was 3 (2-4) days. Cardiovascular drugs [31.7% (n=761) were the most commonly prescribed. Among the antimicrobials, metronidazole was most com...

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology

Background: This survey was designed to assess and evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotic... more Background: This survey was designed to assess and evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotics used in patients suffering from ENT (Eye, Nose, and Throat) infections in ENT outpatient departments (OPD) at Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), Phulbari, Pokhara, Nepal.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in out-patients of ENT department at MTH for 6 month in which a total of 216 prescriptions were observed randomly and data filled patient profile forms were collected and analyzed.Results: Out of 216 patients, 126(58.33%) were male and 90 (41.67%) were female. Patients of age group 21-30 were maximum (29.16%) followed by age group of 11-20 (22.22%). Only 6.7% of drugs were prescribed from their generic names. Data analysis revealed that about 72.24%, 24.53% and 3.23% of prescription contained one, two and three antibiotic drugs respectively. All together 970 drugs were prescribed in 216 prescriptions out of which 251 (25.87%) were antibiotics drugs. This suggeste...

Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences

Background: Four federal government universities, two state government universities and two healt... more Background: Four federal government universities, two state government universities and two health science academies are conducting bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharm) program in 27 pharmacy colleges with the enrollment of 815 students in academic year 2023/24. Tribhuvan University is adopting year system where as all other seven universities and academies are adopting eight semester's system. The curricula of all pharmacy institution vary with the priority in different areas of pharmacy practice. Objective: To compare the content of existing and available text-based documents describing curricular contents provided by all Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) course conducting institutions of Nepal. Method: The present curriculums of the universities were requested from the four Departments of Pharmacy of the respective university and health science academies where authors are not affiliated. Individual pharmacy council's regulations were downloaded adopting narrow topic search for the respective country's pharmacy council name. Curriculum's subject labels together with academic credits or contact hours were retrieved from the collected documents. This exploratory study employed analysis of curriculums content of existing and available text-based documents describing curricular contents provided by all institutions. Subjects are divided into three categories: Basic sciences (basic chemistry, mathematics, algebra, calculus, computer and python program), basic medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, biochemistry and microbiology) core subjects (pharmacognosy, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutics, medicinal/ pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, herbal drugs, hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy). Results: Total 4 years or 8 semester's credits of B Pharmacy course vary from 148 credits of Kathmandu University to 174 credits of Trribhuvan University. Maximum practical load is 31.75% with Karnali Academy of Health Sciences and lowest 11.00% with Pokhara University. The practical load is below 20% in the curriculum of Pokhara University, Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University (KU). Total 21.60% (32 credits out of 148 credits) is allocated in KU only for basic sciences where as Pokhara University spending 20.50% (34 credits out of 166 credits). In KU first year is common with engineering students and in Pokhara University "Chemical Name Reaction" is taught in 5 th semester. In Trribhuvan University curriculum basic sciences are totally neglected and only 5% (9 credits out of 174 credits). Other pharmacy college like PU 12.90% (22 credits out of 170 credits), KAHS 10.24% (17 credits out of 166) and MTU 8.54% (14 credits out of 164) respectively. Conclusion: We found large variation in Pharmacy Curricula of Nepalese Education Institutions. Competency based curriculum are necessary for the fulfillment of the demand of qualified pharmacy manpower for the safeguard of the public health. Harmonization of the curricula is desirable for uniform pharmacy education in the country.

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Di... more Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetics are at a higher risk of polypharmacy and more vulnerable to irrational prescription. Data regarding drug use pattern in diabetes is lacking in South Asian countries. Objectives: The present study was conducted with the objectives of collecting the demographic details of diabetes patients, studying the pattern of drug prescribing among diabetic outpatients, calculating the mean prescription cost for the diabetes patients and analysing the prescriptions according to prescribing indicators. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Outpatient Pharmacy (OPP), Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, from 22nd August to 7th December 2006. All the diabetes patients who visited the OPP during the study period were enrolled after getting verbal consent and interviewed by the researchers, based on the study objectives. The details were entered in the structured patient profile form, and the filled forms were analysed. Results: Altogether 182 patients, 103 males (56.59%) and 79 females (43.41%), were enrolled. Among these, 69 (37.91%) were in the age group 51-60 years, 128 (70.33%) had a diabetic history of less than 5 years and 136 (74.72%) had at least one concurrent illness. Two, three and four drugs were prescribed in 39 (21.43%), 35 (19.23%) and 40 (21.98%) patients, respectively. Altogether, 685 drugs were prescribed with an average of 3.76 drugs per prescription. Antidiabetics were accounted for 314 (45.84%) of the total drugs. Among the various antidiabetics, biguanides were accounted for 161 (51.27%) of the total antidiabetic medications. Among the study patients, 28 (15.38%) had an encounter with an injection prescribed and 16 (2.34%) of the total drugs were fixed-dose combinations and 0.88% (n = 6) of the drugs were antibiotics. The duration of prescription of medicines ranges from 29 to 35 days for 41.17% (n = 282) of the total drugs and 57 to 63 days for 44.23% (n = 303) drugs. Majority [650 (94.89%)] of the drugs were prescribed in oral dosage form. The average cost per prescription was NPR 1156.15 (US $16.17). Antidiabetic medications constituted 58.93% of the total cost. Among the antidiabetic medications insulin accounted for 41.07% of the total cost followed by biguanides (32.60%). Conclusions: Insulin and biguanides were the most commonly prescribed antidiabetics. Our study was done for a short period of time, and the number of patients studied was low. Hence, similar studies covering large number of patients are needed to confirm our findings.

Archives of Pharmacy Practice, 2011

Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021

Background: Periodic assessment of morbidity and drug use at various levels of healthcare deliver... more Background: Periodic assessment of morbidity and drug use at various levels of healthcare delivery system is important to recognize common prevalent morbidities and rationalize the use of medicines. The study was conducted to determine the common morbidities and audit prescription using WHO prescribing indicator in government operated tertiary hospitals of eastern Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in government tertiary hospitals of Province 1, Nepal, from March 2019 to August 2019. For analysis, descriptive statistics were used. Prescribing characteristics were evaluated using recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. Results: Six hundred prescriptions were analyzed. The most prevalent morbidity was endocrine, nutrition & metabolic diseases (21.5%) followed by diseases of the respiratory system (19.8%), circulatory system (17.6%), and digestive system (12.8%). The most frequently encountered individual disease entit...

Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Background: Antibiotics are generally prescribed for both prophylactically and to treat ongoing i... more Background: Antibiotics are generally prescribed for both prophylactically and to treat ongoing infections in the orthopedic department. Assessment of prescribing pattern at regular interval is essential to avoid inappropriate use of drugs. Objectives: To know the utilization pattern of antibiotics and drug related problems like adverse drug reactions (ADR) and drug-drug interactions (DDI) in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospitalized patients using WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology for one month duration in orthopedic department at a tertiary hospital. Standard data collection forms were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used for analyzing the data. Results: Out of 196, most of patients (72.96%) were male and most of patients (34.69%) were from the age group 21-30 years. A total of 782 drugs were prescribed during study period and among them 262 were antibiotic...

Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences

Objective: To analyze the clinical profile of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) ... more Objective: To analyze the clinical profile of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH) at Pokhara, Nepal, identify the commonly prescribed drugs, drug categories, dosage forms, antimicrobials, sensitivity pattern of antimicrobials and the treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study in which he case records of all the patients admitted in the ICU during 1st August to 30 th September, 2007 were collected and the details were entered in the patient profile form. The filled patient profile forms were retrospectively analyzed as per the study objectives. Results: Altogether, 201 patients [males 101 (50.25%)] were admitted. Most common diagnosis was 'Myocardial Infarction /Ischemic heart disease' [13.96 % (n=62)]. The median (interquartile range) of the ICU stay was 3 (2-4) days. Cardiovascular drugs [31.7% (n=761) were the most commonly prescribed. Among the antimicrobials, metronidazole was most com...

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology

Background: This survey was designed to assess and evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotic... more Background: This survey was designed to assess and evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotics used in patients suffering from ENT (Eye, Nose, and Throat) infections in ENT outpatient departments (OPD) at Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), Phulbari, Pokhara, Nepal.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in out-patients of ENT department at MTH for 6 month in which a total of 216 prescriptions were observed randomly and data filled patient profile forms were collected and analyzed.Results: Out of 216 patients, 126(58.33%) were male and 90 (41.67%) were female. Patients of age group 21-30 were maximum (29.16%) followed by age group of 11-20 (22.22%). Only 6.7% of drugs were prescribed from their generic names. Data analysis revealed that about 72.24%, 24.53% and 3.23% of prescription contained one, two and three antibiotic drugs respectively. All together 970 drugs were prescribed in 216 prescriptions out of which 251 (25.87%) were antibiotics drugs. This suggeste...

Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences