Investigating the Rational Use of Injectable Analgesics in Emergency and Surgical Wards of Imam Sajjad Hospital, Ramsar

The aim of this study was the investigating rational use of opioid and non-opioid injectable analgesics in patients admitted to surgery and emergency wards of Imam Sajjad general hospital, Ramsar, Iran.

This descriptive and retrospective study was performed between July to August 2016 on 1181 files of patients receiving injectable analgesics and admitted to surgery and emergency wards of Imam Sajjad general hospital. Different information including indication, dose of administered drug and duration of treatment were recorded and compared to the AHFS guideline.

Among 1181 subjects, 675 patients were admitted to surgery and 506 patients to emergency wards. The main indications of injectable analgesic administration were trauma, cancer pain, chest pain and lumbar neuropathic pain, respectively. Of the 1181 patients, 568 cases received opioids, 341 cases received non-opioids and 272 cases received both opioid and non-opioids. Among the opioids, morphine was the most prescribed and among the non-opioids ketorolac was the most. Mostly encountered adverse effects were nausea and vomiting, hypotension and headache. Overall, 23.62% of the prescriptions were in accordance with guideline and 76.37% of them weren’t compatible.

Because of high inconsistency with guideline, it seems to need more attention on promoting medical staff information about prescription and rational use of injectable analgesic drugs.