Drug prescription pattern for asthma among nigerian doctors in general practice: A cross-sectional survey

Background: A wide range of medications are now available for the treatment of asthma and selection of the optimal treatment combination of agents is essential. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate a self-reported drug prescribing pattern for asthma among Nigerian doctors in general practice. Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey conducted among general practitioners in six states of Nigeria. Results: For acute severe asthma, 75.9 of the doctors prescribed intravenous methylxanthines, which was combined with oral or inhaled short-acting 2 agonists (SABA) by 56.3 of them. Systemic steroids were prescribed mainly via the intravenous route by 58.8 of them. Aberrant drugs such as antibiotics, antihistamines, and mucolytics were prescribed by 25.6 of them. For long-term, follow-up treatment of asthma, oral steroids, and oral SABA were commonly prescribed, while inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and ICS/LABA (long acting beta agonists) were infrequently prescribed. Aberrant drugs such as analgesics, antimalaria, and antihistamines were prescribed by 22.8 of them. About 48 of the doctors had never attended any form of update training on asthma management, whereas, only 16.3 attended update training on asthma within the last year preceding this study. Awareness of international guidelines on asthma treatment was poor among them with only 16.4 being able to mention any correct guideline on asthma management. Conclusion: The poor anti-asthma prescribing behavior among these doctors is associated with a low level of participation at update training on asthma management and poor awareness of asthma guidelines. The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Thoracic Society should urgently address these problems.