Drug use pattern is assessed through prescribers, dispensers, and patients.The indicators used for monitoring include, health-facility, prescribing and patient care indicators.

The study was aimed at determining the drug use pattern by measuring core indicators in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria, from 2010 to 2011, and to compare findings with similar institutions globally.

Drug-specific analysis employed research tools using nine-item questionnaires, checklists and standard patient care forms. Data was obtained from patients who visited the hospital, within the period of this study.

The study revealed that out of the total drugs prescribed, 85.3% were dispensed and the average number of drugs per prescription was three. About 70.2% of drugs were prescribed by generic names while the rest were by brand names. Drugs prescribed from the hospital formulary were 88% with antibiotics being the most prescribed (35.3%) while the least prescribed were injections (9%) with no significant variation (p>0.05) for the indicators measured during the period. Responses to questions on drug use produced positive results (>85%) in six out of the nine research items. Average consultation time was 11.33 minutes and dispensing time gave 3.53 minutes.

The drug use pattern in JUTH was satisfactory compared to national and international findings. The core indicators measured underscored the need for pharmacists to provide drug information and counseling needs to patients and could serve as basis for further studies on drug use for hospitals in resource limited settings.