Publication: Community intervention to improve knowledge and practices on commonly used drugs
Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Background: World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about half of all medicines are inappropriately
prescribed, dispensed and sold and about half of all patients fail to take their medicines properly.
Objective: The overall objective of the study was improving use of medicines in the community by creating awareness
among different target groups.
Materials and methods: It was a pre-post comparison of intervention implemented at the community level in purposively
selected Bhaktapur District of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The study was conducted in the private schools of the study
district. Twelve schools were randomly selected. Thereafter, students from 6-9 grades were listed from the selected
schools. Then 15% of the total students in each grade were randomly selected to get six students from each grade of
the each school, totaling 288 students. The households of the selected students served as the sample households for the
study. Thus, there were 288 households sampled for the study.
The intervention and the targeted intermediary groups consisted of a. training of schools teachers b. training of journalists
c. interactive discussions of trained school teachers with school children using key messages and c. communication of
key messages through the local F.M. radio, newspaper/ magazine.
Results: There was a significant increase in correct knowledge on action of antibiotics and excellent knowledge on the
methods of administration of antibiotics of households after the intervention. Similarly, there was a significant increase
in knowledge on cough as a disease and a significant decrease in the use of cough medicines after intervention. There
was also a significant increase in excellent knowledge on the sources of vitamins and a significant decrease in the use of
vitamin/tonics after the intervention.
Conclusion: The participation of intermediary groups eg. school teachers, journalists and school children in the
implementation of intervention were successful. The groups have fulfilled the commitments in implementing the plan of
action. The key messages have effectively reached the households, and the knowledge and practices of the community
members in drug use have improved.
Key words: Community intervention, Use of common drugs, Knowledge and practice
Description
Kafle KK1, Karkee SB1 , Shrestha N 1 , Prasad RR 1, Bhuju GB 1, Das PL 1, Chataut BD 1
1International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD, Nepal)