Evaluation of prescribing trends in patients with gastrointestinal cancers; A prospective observation study

Abstract

Background: To Evaluate the prescribing trends in patients with gastrointestinal cancers; A prospective observational study in Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology, Mysuru.

Methodology: Six hundred and seventy eight patients were screened and 111 were enrolledinto the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and the same was taken for further analysis.

Results: Out of 111 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma, 66 patients (54%) are between age of 41-50 years. In these study 78 patients (70.3%) were males, 91 patients (81.98%) are from rural area, in our study 69 patients were (62.16%) illiterate. In this study, the prevalence of GI cancer was 16.37% was observed.  Doublet chemotherapy regimen (18.11%) was frequently prescribed, in which 71.11% of patients who received FOLFOX and ECF had carcinoma of GI while paclitaxel + carboplatin (8.10%). Singlet regimen 5-Flurouracil (1.80%), Capecitabine (0.90%) were highly prescribed among the different cancer types. The most commonly prescribed supportive care medications Palenosetron (90.99%) dexamethasone (90.99%) and ranitidine (23.42%), filgrastim (83.33%) were prescribed among all cycles of chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Prevalence of gastrointestinal cancer in the study was 16.37% and more male were diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers.