Assessment of Prescription Writing Quality at Secondary Health Facilities in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

Prescription quality is a fundamental determinant of rational drug therapy and patient safety. Incomplete or illegible prescriptions contribute to dispensing errors and adverse drug events in healthcare settings. This study assessed the quality of prescriptions written at secondary health facilities in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A retrospective review of 600 prescriptions collected from six general hospitals over a six-month period was conducted. Prescriptions were evaluated against WHO standard prescribing indicators and national prescription writing guidelines, examining parameters such as patient identification, drug name (generic versus brand), dose, frequency, route, duration, and prescriber identification. Results showed that only 52 percent of prescriptions included the patient's complete name and address. Generic drug names were used in 44 percent of prescriptions, and dose and duration were absent in 31 percent of reviewed documents. Prescriber's signature was missing in approximately 18 percent of cases. The legibility of handwritten prescriptions was rated as poor in 22 percent of cases by independent assessors. These findings indicate significant deficiencies in prescription quality, creating risks for medication errors. Recommendations include mandatory prescription writing training for medical officers, adoption of electronic prescribing systems, and active pharmacist-led prescription review programs at the dispensing stage. Engagement with Kaduna State Health Management Boards to enforce prescription writing standards is also advised. Keywords: prescription quality, rational prescribing, Kaduna State, secondary health facilities, medication errors