Analysis of Prescribing Patterns and Therapy Costs in Dyspepsia Patients at Klinik Pratama Soedirman

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of dyspepsia in Indonesia is estimated at 40-50%. Klinik Pratama Soedirman is a first-level health facility with dyspepsia cases ranking in top 10 in most diagnoses. The overuse of drugs in dyspepsia therapy causes economic burden for both health facilities and patients. There has not been much research on the analysis of prescribing patterns and therapy costs, especially in the Banyumas area. Objectives: This study aims to identify the prescribing pattern and compare the cost of therapy in dyspepsia patients issued by Klinik Pratama Soedirman. Methods: This study was an observational study with descriptive analytic approach on 117 dyspepsia patients at Klinik Pratama Soedirman by total sampling. Data were taken from the patients' medical records in the period March-August 2024. Data were analyzed univariately, then analyzed bivariately using the Chi-square or Fisher Exact test. Data on therapy costs were compared using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Key findings: 77.78% of patients were female, 85.47% were aged 18-25 years, and 90.59% of patients used BPJS financing. The most common number of main drugs used was >1 drug (65.82%), with the use of adjuvant drugs totaling 80 prescriptions (68.37%). The highest number of adjuvant drugs was 1 adjuvant drug (72.5%). There was a significant difference between the cost of therapy based on the main drug (p=0.008) and the use of adjuvant drugs (p=0.019). Conclusions: There was no significant association between gender, age, and type of patient financing with dyspepsia prescribing patterns whether based on number of main drugs or adjuvant drug uses. Further research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of therapy with patient outcomes.