Rational Use of Nutritional Supplements in A Government Hospital: A Cross - Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Nutritional supplements such as iron, folic acid, calcium, multi – vitamin, and ascorbic acid are commonly prescribed in health care settings. However, irrational, or inappropriate use of these supplements can lead to adverse effects, unnecessary costs, and contribute to the development of drug resistance in some cases. In government hospitals, where resources are often limited, ensuring that supplements are prescribed rationally is crucial for both improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare resources. The aim of the study is Rational use of nutritional supplements in a government hospital: A Cross – Sectional Analysis. This is a Cross – sectional, observational study conducted in APPVP Hospital, Narasaraopet, over a period of 6 months, A total of 200 patients were prescribed with nutritional supplements. According to the study, the overall patient’s demographics of sex distribution in the study are, 90 patients were males (45%) and 110 patients were females (55%). A wide range of patients were involved in the study whose age group ranges from 18 to 60 years and above. In our study we concluded that a notable portion of prescriptions for multivitamins and Ascorbic acid were not in accordance with established guidelines.

Keywords

Introduction

Table 1: Gender Distribution

Fig. 1 - Gender distribution

Table 2: Age in distribution

 

Fig. 2 – No. of patient’s vs Age Group

Table 3 : Prevalence of supplements prescribed

Supplements	No. of patients	Percentage (%)
Iron	70	35%
Folic acid	20	10%
Calcium	40	20%
Multi vitamin	30	15%
Ascorbic acid	40	20%

 

Fig. 3 – No. of patient’s vs Prevalence of Supplement’s

Table 4 : Indications for supplementations

Fig . 4 – Indication of Supplement’s vs No. of Patients

Table 5 : Rationality of supplement use

Fig. 5 – No. of patient’s vs supplement’s

DISCUSSION

In our present study titled “Rational use of Nutritional Supplements in a Government Hospital: A Cross – Sectional Analysis” a total no. of 200 patients were included out of which 90 (45%) are male patients and 110 (55%) were female patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the rational use of iron, folic acid, calcium, multivitamins, and ascorbic acid in a government hospital setting by evaluating the prescription patterns, adherence to guidelines, and patient outcomes. The study found that iron, calcium, folic acid and ascorbic acid were the most commonly prescribed supplements, with iron and folic acid being the most frequently prescribed for anaemia and pregnancy-related conditions. A significant proportion of prescriptions were rational, following established clinical guidelines, but a considerable number of prescriptions, particularly for multivitamins and Ascorbic acid, were not in line with guidelines. These prescriptions may indicate over use or misapplication of supplements in patients without clear deficiencies. Despite general adherence to recommendations, there is still potential for improvement in minimising the irrational use of supplements. Similar studies in other healthcare settings, including public hospitals, show a high prevalence of irrational supplementation, particularly for multivitamins and folic acid. This is often due to a lack of diagnostic testing and inappropriate prescribing practices. Patients should be educated about the importance of following prescriptions as directed and about the risks associated with taking supplements without clear medical indications.

Health care systems reforms : Implementing electronic health records and decision support systems could improve adherence to evidence-based prescribing guidelines and reduce errors.

Limitations :

1. The study is limited by its cross-sectional nature, which does not allow for long-term outcome measurement.
2.  The study was conducted in a single hospital, limiting its generalizability to other regions or countries.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted that while the majority of nutritional supplement prescriptions were rational, a notable portion of prescriptions for multivitamins and Ascorbic acid were not in accordance with established guidelines. This indicates a need for improvements in prescribing practices and patient education in the government hospital setting. Rational supplementation is essential not only for improving patient outcomes but also for reducing unnecessary costs in public healthcare.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nill

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The authors express their gratitude to the inquisitive individuals who assisted and encouraged us in our research work.

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