Abstract
Background: Off-label drug prescriptions are widespread, representing 21% to 32.3% of all prescriptions. This practice is especially concerning for vulnerable groups, including pediatric patients, where off-label usage is particularly high.
Aim: To assess the prevalence of off-label drug use in pediatric outpatient clinics.
Methods: The study included 900 children, aged 2 months to 14 years, treated at El Hussein and Said Galal University Hospitals between November 2023 and May 2024.
Results: Off-label drug use was found in 85.2% of the children. Females were more frequently prescribed off-label drugs than males. The highest rates were observed among neonates and children under 6 years. Antimicrobial and intramuscularly administered drugs were most commonly used off-label. General practitioners and pharmacists were the leading prescribers of off-label medications.
Conclusion: Pediatric outpatient clinics had a high rate of off-label drug use, particularly in younger children and females, antimicrobial drugs and intramuscular medications, with general practitioners and pharmacists being the main prescribers.
Article Type
Original Article
Keywords
Off-label medication; Antimicrobial drugs; Intramuscular
Subject Area
Pediatrics & its Subspecialty.
How to Cite This Article
Ahmed, Abdulrahman Osama El said; Hasan, Mohamed Abd-El Malik; Mohamed, Ahmed Mohamed; and El-Agamy, Ali El-Sayed
(2024)
"Screening of Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatric Out-Patient Clinic,"
Al-Azhar International Medical Journal: Vol. 5:
Iss.
12, Article 41.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58675/2682-339X.2820
