Health Care Delivery in the General Paediatric Outpatient Clinic of the Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaria A Medical Audit.

Abstract

Summary: Three hundred and sixty-one parents of children attending a children's general outpatient clinic were interviewed to assess their understanding and interpretation of prescriptions for their children. The results were analysed together with the pres criptions and the respective outpatient cards. Discrepancy in drug prescription and interpretation was found in 40% of all prescriptions. In a few cases, the discrepancy would have resulted in serious drug overdose. Polypharmacy was common; 40.7% of the children were given threc drugs or more. In three-quarters of the patients, no diagnosis was recorded in the outpatient cards, and in about half of them, the treat ment prescribed was not recorded. Previous clinic visits, distance from the hospital or the day of the week did not influence parents' understanding and interpretation of prescriptions