ABSTRACT
Background: Over the counter (OTC), drugs are found to be safe and appropriate for use without supervision of a healthcare professional such as physician and they can be purchased by consumers without prescription. The study gains its importance because of the spreading of misuse of antibiotics and various drugs adverse drug reactions in the society. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of the study is to observe as to how many pharmacists/chemists/drug store sellers follow or violate the drug cosmetic act. Materials and Methods: It is an observational and cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacies of Udaipur city, urban areas of Southern Rajasthan. The study includes a sample size of 200 pharmacies selected through convenient random sampling. A detailed semi-structured questionnaire is administered to the pharmacists. The set of questions include types of drugs, reason for dispensing, knowledge, and attitude of pharmacist toward dispensing non-OTC drugs. All the private pharmacies willing to participate were included in the study. Data are entered in Microsoft Excel and statistically analyzed. Results: The results throw light on the behavior and pattern of dispensing habits of the drug store sellers of the city of Udaipur, Southern Rajasthan. It was observed that many pharmacists are in fact in the habit of dispensing non-OTC drugs in almost all the areas. Conclusions: Results give insights about the groups of drugs, logic, behavior, and knowledge level of pharmacists involved in dispensing practices in the city of Udaipur. There should be structured educational campaigns (or use of media, internet, newspaper, radio, television, advertisements, mobiles, etc.) for both pharmacists and public.
ABSTRACT
Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is highly gaining popularity along with main treatment streams these days. Physicians cannot ignore this fact and should question and counsel patients about pros and cons of CAM for cure of different ailments. Aim and Objectives: The objective of the study was to know about use of CAM among patients visiting Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) outpatient department (OPD) in tertiary care hospital of Southern Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in ENT OPD for 2 months. Two hundred and fifty patients were considered for the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and made to be filled by the patients during their visit to ENT OPD after taking informed consent. Various questions were asked like extent of use of alternative therapies, type of CAM used by the patients, patient’s knowledge about ADRs and drug interactions, reasons for which alternative medicine might have been used. Results: Among 250 patients, CAMs were used by 36 patients. The most common CAMs were either Ayurveda or Homoeopathy medicines or both. The majority of patients obtained their information from family and friends. Maximum patients used these alternative medicines for relief of cough and hoarseness of voice. Conclusion: The study throws light on use of alternative drug therapy and streams of medicine along with routine hospital treatment among patients visiting ENT OPD. This knowledge helps to understand about patients’ alternative approach to diseases, about self-medication, patient’s belief about different types of therapies and also ignorance of possible health hazards, side effects, and complications due to use of concomitant main and alternative medicines for treatment purposes.
ABSTRACT
Background: Post-marketing surveillance regulates the safety, quality, and performance of medical devices (MDs). Medical professionals play a key role in the monitoring and reporting of MD Adverse Events (AEs). Since the launch of Materiovigilance (MV) Programme of India, very few published studies were found regarding reporting of MDAE. Aim and Objective: This study aims to know about awareness and outlook of medical professionals regarding MV. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study done among medical professionals of various specialties in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Rajasthan. A pre-validated questionnaire was circulated to 200 doctors containing questions related to knowledge, attitude and practice of MV. Results: About 58.6% of the doctors came to know about the term MV during this study. About 76.7% of participants knew that MD could lead to an AE, but only 11.2% of the participants had the correct knowledge of how to report an AE related to MD. About 66.8% of participants had positive attitude regarding reporting of AE, 23.7% reported the event and 66.6% did not report as they found them mild. Conclusion: Majority of doctors had the knowledge about reporting of AEs, but they were largely unaware of the term MV. Knowledge regarding where to report is very limited. Despite adequate level of knowledge, reporting practices are very limited. Hence, there is a need for regular sensitization and training programs to foster the habit of reporting AE related to MD even if they are mild.
ABSTRACT
Background: Drug utilization study is one of the most potent tool to promote rational drug use in medical, social, and economic scenario. Very less or no study has been done in Southern Rajasthan, hence this study shows valuable insights in Drug Utilization pattern. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the drug utilization pattern in ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient department (OPD) in M.B. government hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was done in ENT OPD for a period of 9 months. Total 445 prescriptions were taken into consideration. All patients of the age group 18 years and above were included in the study. Results: Of total 445 cases, maximum number of patients (7.19%) suffered from bilateral chronic suppurative otitis media and minimum (2.02%) from eustachian tube block. A total number of drugs prescribed were 60. Maximum utilized drug was ibuprofen and minimum was Acyclovir. Mean number of drugs prescribed were 2.615. Maximum drugs were given by oral route and minimum as gargles. Total prescribed drugs were 1164. Most common prescribed drug group was NSAIDS (23.19%). Total cost of therapy was 58,584, cost per patient was122.6. Prescribed daily dose/defined daily dose ratio was calculated for antibiotics. Conclusion: Study shows rational drug prescribing. Account of Alternative medicine was taken in consideration, isolation of microorganisms prior drug prescribing was not done.
ABSTRACT
Background: Doctors doing postgraduation (PG) are backbone of any teaching-hospital and are in close contact with patients. It is important they have adequate knowledge and attitude towards adverse drug reaction (ADR)-reporting and Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). Aim and Objectives: To study the impact of an educational intervention on knowledge and attitude of 1st year PG residents toward ADR reporting and Pharmacovigilance. Materials and Methods: An educational intervention was conducted among 1st-year postgraduate students, including a lecture on importance and need of pharmacovigilance, hands-on-training on how to fill Suspected ADR Reporting Form and group based interactive discussion. Knowledge and attitude of participants were recorded in pre-post intervention questionnaire and analyzed. Results: Sixty-three postgraduate students from clinical (82.5%), paraclinical (12.7%), and preclinical (4.7%) departments participated. Mean test-score improved from 7.27 to 11.65 (P < 0.005). Need for pharmacovigilance, ADR-reporting related terminologies, PvPI, who can report and where to report ADR, signal generation, types of ADR-forms, and legal implications of reporting were the major areas with significant improvement. About 87% agreed post-intervention that ADRs are a major cause of morbidity, 96% agreed there should be an ADR-Reporting Centre in every institute and 92% agreed they will try to find whether some drug might be responsible for any unusual symptom in patient. Conclusion: Educational intervention could improve knowledge as well as attitude toward ADR reporting among postgraduate doctors, long-term impact needs further assessment.