https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7199-9235
Abstract
Background
According to World Health Organization (WHO) drug use indicators manual, the patients’ knowledge on dispensed medication is a crucial patient care indicator. There is a dearth of studies about patients’ knowledge of dispensed medication at the primary health care facility. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of dispensed medication and associated factors among patients attending in the outpatient pharmacy of Chencha primary level hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods
A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 403 patients attending in the outpatient pharmacy of Chencha primary level hospital. The data collection techniques were observation of dispensing process and face-to-face interview by using WHO patient care indicators and a structured questionnaire, respectively. Descriptive statistics, univariable and multivariable logistic regression were determined using the SPSS version 20.
Results
A total of 403 patients participated which make the response rate 100%. Fifty-three (13.2%) patients had adequate knowledge on dispensed medication. The findings of multivariable logistic regression indicated that tertiary levels of education (AOR = 3.87; 95% CI [1.25, 11.96]), being private employee (AOR = 10.98; 95% CI [3.25, 37.04]), having severe perception of illness (AOR =3.77; 95% CI [1.43, 9.94]), having three or more visits (AOR =3.20; 95% CI [1.21, 8.44]) and being counseled by pharmacist (AOR = 10.02; 95% CI [4.45, 22.56]) significantly increased the odds of having a “adequate knowledge of medicines.”
Conclusion
This study showed inadequate level of knowledge of dispensed medicine among patients attending in outpatient pharmacy of Chencha primary level hospital. Patient education, employment status, number of visits, perception of illness, dispenser qualification and experience were the factors for knowledge of dispensed medicine. Dispensers need into account patients’ perception of their illness of illness and frequency of visits during counseling.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the support of Chencha primary hospital in facilitating data collection process.
Abbreviations
AOR, Adjusted Odd Ratio; CI, Confidence Interval; COR, Crude Odd Ratio; HFSUH, Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital; MoH, Ministry of Health; OP, Outpatient; ROC, Receiver Operating Characteristics; SD, Standard Deviation; SPSS, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences; VIF, Variance Inflation Factor; WHO, World Health Organization.
Data Sharing Statement
All data used to support the results of this research are available.
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
The current study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This study was conducted after getting ethical approval from Arbaminch Health Sciences ethical review board. Permission was obtained from Gamo Zone Health Office and Chencha primary level hospital before starting the study. The study consisted patients that had given informed consent before data collection. In order to ascertain anonymous linkage, only the codes were recorded on the data collection tool.
Author Contributions
All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.