Drug Utilization and Prescribing Practices in the ENT Outpatient Department

October 28, 2026 updated by: Alhasan Mujtaba Al-Mudhaffer, AlFayhaa General Hospital

Drug Utilization Patterns and Evaluation of Prescribing Practices Using WHO Prescribing Indicators in the ENT Outpatient Department

This cross-sectional, observational study evaluates drug utilization patterns and prescribing practices in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient department using World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators. The study aims to assess prescription quality, the average number of drugs per encounter, antibiotic overuse, generic prescribing rates, and adherence to essential medicines lists to promote rational drug use and identify potential polypharmacy trends.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

600

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Iraq
      • Basra, Iraq
        • Al-Mawanee Teaching Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Alhasan Al-mudafeer
          • Phone Number: +9647801601693
    • Basra Governorate
      • Basra, Basra Governorate, Iraq
        • Al-Mawanee Teaching Hospital
        • Contact:
          • AL-Hassan M Almudafeer
          • Phone Number: +9647801601693

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients of any age group attending the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) outpatient department and receiving at least one medical prescription during the study period.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients attending the ENT outpatient department during the study period.
  • Patients receiving at least one prescription.
  • Patients of all age groups.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Incomplete prescriptions.
  • Inpatients (admitted patients).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: OTHER
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
ENT Outpatient Prescriptions

Prescriptions issued to patients attending the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient department during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Average Number of Drugs Per Prescription
Time Frame: During the 4-6 month study period

Assessment of the average number of medications prescribed per patient encounter in the ENT outpatient department using WHO prescribing indicators.
During the 4-6 month study period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Encounters with Antibiotics
Time Frame: During the 4-6 month study period

To calculate the percentage of patient encounters where at least one antibiotic is prescribed in the ENT outpatient department.
During the 4-6 month study period
Percentage of Drugs Prescribed by Generic Name
Time Frame: During the 4-6 month study period

To assess the extent of generic prescribing relative to total drugs prescribed in the ENT outpatient department.
During the 4-6 month study period
Adherence to Essential Medicines List
Time Frame: During the 4-6 month study period

To evaluate whether the prescribed medications are selected from the official essential medicines list.
During the 4-6 month study period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

AlFayhaa General Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alhasan M Al-mudafeer, AlFayhaa General Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 15, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 28, 2026

Last Verified

October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ENTWHO-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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