• A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital in India to assess the prevalence of deviations in prescriptions from standard guidelines.

• The study also aimed to assess the possible consequences of such deviations and the corrective measures that can help prevent and reduce them.

• Prescriptions with deviations were defined as those that were either:

1. Not compliant with the standard guidelines OR

2. Which were incomplete concerning formulations, dose, and duration.

• Some prescriptions with deviations were termed "unacceptable deviations” if they could have led to the following:

1. Adverse drug reactions

2. Increased cost

3. Drug interaction

4. Lack of response

5. Antimicrobial resistance

• A total of 4838 prescriptions have been studied, of which, 45% were deemed to be “prescriptions with deviations” and 9.8% as “unacceptable prescriptions.”

• The most common diseases for which such deviations were noticed were upper respiratory tract infections and hypertension.

• An administrative order and an online training programme were conducted to ensure the prevention and reduction of such deviations.

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