Browsing by Author "Misheck, William"

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    A description of anti-asthmatic prescription patterns at QECH and 5 Blantyre district urban health centres
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2021-07-29) Chiumia, Jeremiah; Misheck, William
    Asthma is chronic disease of the airways and is affecting the quality of life of most individuals. The mortality rate is high due to improper management of asthma exacerbations. There is need to have strategies that ensure proper and effective ways of managing of asthma exacerbations. It is pertinent that clinicians should have standardized prescribing protocols for asthmatics. This study is aimed at describing the anti-asthmatic prescription patterns by different doctors or prescribers from different health facilities within Blantyre. The specific objectives of this study are to identify common anti- asthmatic medications prescribed at QECH and Blantyre District urban health centres, to quantify the difference in prescribing patterns between primary care (Blantyre District urban health centres) versus secondary/tertiary health care facility (Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital),to assess how severity of asthma presentations affect the anti- asthmatic prescription patterns and to determine the adherence of prescribers to Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines (MSTG) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The selected health facilities where the study will be conducted are Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Chilomoni, Zingwangwa, Gateway, Limbe, Ndirande and Bangwe health centers. All prescribers regardless of level and qualification present at the selected health facilities during the study period will be eligible for participation in the study. Data will be collected from the participants using questionnaires. Data will be analyzed using a software package called EPI-INFO and the results will be presented in tables. This study is expected to help us know the most prescribed anti-asthmatic drug and this will be evaluated using pie chart. The study is also expected to tell us the reasons as to why the prescribers are not adhering to the recommended guidelines for asthma management and this will be captured using questionnaires.