Pattern of Drug Prescription and Utilization among Bam Residents during the First Six Months after the 2003 Bam Earthquake

Introduction: It is important to identify what kinds of drugs are required by disaster-affected populations so that appropriate donations are allocated. On 26 December 2003, an earthquake with an amplitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale struck southeastern Iran, decimating the city of Bam. In this study, the most frequently utilized and prescribed drugs for Bam outpatients during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake were investigated. Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, the data were collected randomly from 3,000 prescriptions of Bam outpatients who were examined by general practitioners from Emergency Medical Assistance Teams in 12 healthcare centers during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake. The data were analyzed for: (1) patient sex; (2) number of drugs/prescriptions; (3) drug category; (4) drug name (generic or brand); (5) route of administration; (6) percent of visits where the most frequent drug categories were prescribed; and (7) the 25 most frequently prescribed drugs, using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators of drug use in health facilities. Results: Male patients represented 47.4% and females 52.6% of the total number of outpatients. The mean number of drugs/prescriptions was 3.5 per outpatient. Oral administration was the most frequent method of administration (81.7%), followed by injections (10.9%). Respiratory drugs were the most frequently used drugs (14.2%), followed by analgesics/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (11.3%), antibacterials (11.2%), gastrointestinal (GI) drugs (9.6%), and central nervous system drugs (7%). Penicillins (6.8%), cold preparations (8%), and systemic anti-acids (ranitidine and omeprazole) were among the 25 most frequently used drugs by outpatients and inhabitants of Bam during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake. Conclusion: Respiratory, analgesic, antibacterial, GI, and psychiatric medications were among the most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals after the catastrophic Bam Earthquake. The results of this study may help to predict the needs of patients during future disasters and prevent unnecessary donations of medicine.