Attitude Towards Prescribed Drugs in a Rural Training Center of Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry:From Patients Perspective

Background: Patient’s information regarding the usage of drugs isn’t just of indispensable significance in the anticipation of medication related issues, yet in addition a central point that impacts treatment achievement and thus if given, it offers an open door for one to accomplish a full wellbeing potential.

Objective: to reason out patients perspective regarding prescribed drugs and injections.

Materials and Method: The study was carried out among patients attending rural training center at a tertiary hospital in Puducherry. Two hundred and sixty patients, who gave their informed consent, were enrolled by consecutive sampling method. A prevalidated questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude about prescribed drugs and injections was filled up. Data was analyzed with suitable statistical tests.

Results: 231(88.8%) patients took medications as prescribed by doctors. 226(86.9%) patients preferred low cost drugs since most of them came from low socio-economic status and 140(53.8%) patients were satisfied with medications without injections. Regarding knowledge, 73.8% of patients knew about the adverse effects of prescribed drugs (p value<0.01). 168(64.6%) of patients knew about the adverse effects of injections (p value<0.01) and hence only 80(30.8%) of them requested for injections.

Conclusion: Patients had a positive attitude and knowledge regarding prescribed drugs and injections, while further awareness is needed about prescribed drugs and injections focusing on the patients general education and knowledge adverse drug events to empower them to choose healthier therapies.