ABSTRACT
Background: Drug utilization studies are an important tool in evaluating the rationality of therapeutic practice and also it is said to improvise the therapeutic use of drugs. The present study will be undertaken to evaluate the drug utilization pattern in the department of Radiotherapy.Methods: This was a prospective, observational study that was undertaken in the department of Radiotherapy in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The study was conducted for a period of 6 months after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethical Committee. The study was conducted among cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. The data was collected from the patient case records and was analyzed as per the WHO prescribing indicators.Results: In the present study it was observed that the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 7.7. The drugs prescribed by generic name were 41.4%. Percentage of encounters with an antibiotic prescribed was 100. Percentage of encounters with an injection prescribed was 20.5%. Percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drugs list was 35.8%.Conclusions: Drug utilization studies helps in modifying the prescription pattern and helps in making the drug usage more rational.
ABSTRACT
Background: Aim of the study were to assess the impact of education on knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccine among medical students and to educate the students regarding Hepatitis B vaccination.Methods: Non-randomized before and after comparison study was conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV), assigning structured questionnaire of 26 different statements concerning knowledge, attitude and practice by pre and post educational intervention on Hepatitis B and its vaccination.Results: The study was conducted among 100 second year medical students. The response rate was 100%. There was statistically significant improvement in knowledge from pre-test mean scores for modes of transmission (87.4+4.70 vs 95.8+1.61; p=0.0001), preventive measures (92+0.47 vs 98+0.94; p=0.001) and Hepatitis B vaccine (71+4.72 to 84.7+6.65; p=0.0001) to post-test. While the increase in mean scores from pre-test for attitude (68.6+9.21 vs 77.43+11.1) and practice (55+25.41 vs 65.6+32.6) were statistically significant in post-test (p=0.0001; p=0.001 respectively).Conclusions: Structured educational intervention among medical students about Hepatitis B vaccination showed improved knowledge and behaviour and also increased the percentage of students willing to get screened and their participation in health education programmes related to Hepatitis B. However, there is slight lack of knowledge regarding the transmission of Hepatitis B and its vaccination schedule. In this regard, implementation and evaluation of educational intervention is needed as a preventative measure.