title: Availability of antidotes and key emergency drugs in tertiary care hospitals of Punjab and assessment of the knowledge of health care professionals in the management of poisoning cases.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of antidotes/key emergency drugs in tertiary care hospitals of the Punjab province, and to assess the knowledge of health care professionals in the stocking and administration of antidotes in the proper management of poisoning cases. Seventeen (n=17) tertiary care hospitals of Punjab Pakistan were selected. Two performas (A and B) were designed for 26 antidotes/key emergency drugs and given to the hospital pharmacists and physicians respectively. It was observed that Activated Charcoal, being the universal antidote was found only in 6 hospitals (41%). Digoxin Immune Fab, Edentate Calcium disodium and Glucagon were not available in emergency department of any hospital and even not included in the formulary of any hospital. About 80% pharmacists were aware of the method of preparation of Activated Charcoal and 85% physicians were familiar with its route of administration. Data showed that tertiary care hospitals of Punjab do not stock antidotes according to national drug policy. Moreover the study strongly suggests the development of health care centers and professional by organizing antidote awareness programs, continuous education and record keeping of poisonous cases and availability of emergency drugs around the clock.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naheed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khiljee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Allah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Iram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maqsood
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes