ASSESSMENT OF CONSUMERS DRUG KNOWLEDGE IN ADDIS ABABA: CROSSSECTIONAL SURVEY

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ASSESSMENT OF CONSUMERS DRUG KNOWLEDGE IN ADDIS
ABABA CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY Tenaw Andualem
and Tsige Gebre-Mariam School of Pharmacy,
Addis Ababa University (INRUD Ethiopia) E-mail
tenawandualem_at_hotmail.com
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INTRODUCTION

• Knowledge on drugs is an important element in
  their proper use.
• Studies on adults indicate that individuals are
  able to discriminate between minor and major
  ailments. They take care of minor problems on
  their own.
• More than 60 of the reported illnesses are dealt
  with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. A few studies
  indicate that adolescents gain drug knowledge
  through drug consumption, i.e., not prior to
  taking drugs and college students use the
  frequently advertised products.

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INTRODUCTION Continued

• Obviously, such practices may lead to potential
  risks, particularly so during self-medication.
• Drugs can be dangerous, particularly to those who
  have little awareness on the potential risks.
• One of the factors that contribute to improper
  use of drugs is lack of overall knowledge on
  drugs.

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INTRODUCTION Continued

• Problem Statement Knowledge on drugs is an
  important element for proper drug use. Knowing
  the names of drugs alone should not be considered
  as adequate.

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OBJECTIVES

• To assess consumers drug knowledge and the
  influencing factors thereof in the sampled
  population of Addis Ababa.

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METHODS

• Design Cross-sectional Study
• Setting Stratified random samples of community
  pharmacies were selected as study sites. Included
  community pharmacies both public and private
  located at different geographical locations of
  Addis Ababa City.

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METHODS Continued

• Study Population
• The study includes all drug consumers who came
  for self-medication during January to February
  2002.
• A total of 1200 convenient samples of
  self-medicating drug consumers were taken for the
  study.
• Outcome Measure(s)
• Assess level of knowledge and perception of
  consumers about drugs.

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RESULTS

• Respondents consisted of Socio-demographic
  characteristics of all age categories of both
  genders varying educational backgrounds and
  occupation.
• As regards information on names of drugs, drug
  consumers know not only the names of OTC drugs
  but also of potent prescription only drugs.
• Among the top 15 frequently recalled drugs, six
  were antimicrobials, namely, Ampicillin,
  Tetracycline, Metronidazole, Amoxicillin,
  Cotrimoxazole and Chloramphenicol.

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RESULTS Continued

• Drug consumers indicated preferences for dosage
  forms (96) the highest being for tablets
  (36.5), followed by injections (28.3) and
  liquid dosage forms (20.2).
• Nearly half (50.4) of drug consumers reported
  they quit taking the full course of medication
  before the date advised by the health care
  provider when illnesses are relieved.

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Table 1 Responses of patients on various
questions testing their knowledge on drugs (Addis
Ababa, Jan-Feb, 2002).  
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Table 2 Knowledge of drug interactions of drug
consumers
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Table 3 The frequent reasons for discontinuation
of drugs before the date advised by the health
care provider
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Figure 1 Dosage form preferences of drug
consumers (n 713, Addis Ababa, Jan-Feb, 2002).
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CONCLUSION

• Knowing the name of the drug alone does not
  necessarily mean adequate knowledge. It was
  evident from non-compliance on the use of drugs.
• Adequate information and counseling should be
  provided to drug consumers on the drugs they
  request and that have to be assured.
• The public has to be educated on the proper use
  of drugs.

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Research Question

• Specific research on the relationship between
  drug knowledge and self-medication and drug
  knowledge, attitude and use (KAU).
• Interventions research in the areas of consumers
  knowledge of drugs.
• Preparation of Proper Drug Use Educational
  materials (to the public and to the health care
  providers) to encourage proper use of drugs