Application of Binary Regression Analysis in the Prescription Pattern of Antidepressants

Abstract

"In Nepal several research studies are reported using percentages or cross tabulation method, but the relevance of logistic regression methodology in research is lag behind among the researchers. A hospital based study was done between 1st October 2009 and 31st March 2010 at Psychiatry Ward of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Nepal. Z test, Chi square test and Binary logistic regression were used for the analysis. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) P-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Different codes were used, the target was coded as 1 and the reference group as 0. The results of the study were interesting as far as the gender is concerned, male and female patients were 44.7% and 55.3% respectively, 95% CI [28.9, 60.5 and 39.5, 71.1]. Depression was more common in housewives 42.1%. Fluoxetine was the commonest antidepressants to be prescribed 42.1%. Psychiatrists has a tendency of prescribing essential drugs if monthly income <10000, 1.063 times as compared to monthly income >10000, 2.63 times more in Hindus and 1.197 times more in Brahmins than any other ethnic groups. 9.179 times more tendency of prescribing antidepressants by trade names in case of unemployed patients as compared to employed patients in Nepal. Binary Logistic regression plays an important role to understand the drug utilization pattern of mood elevators in Western Nepal.