E-drug: Training intervention to improve use of medicines
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Training Intervention to improve the use of medicines in the
community through School Teachers and Women Groups
Kafle KK, Humagain BR, Thapa BB, Shrestha BM, Bhuju GB,
DC GB, Prasad RR and Rajbhandari V
Pharmaceutical Horizon of Nepal (PHON), Post Box 9566,
Kathmandu,Nepal; e-mail: phon1993@hotmail.com
A study was conducted with the objective of improving use of medicines in
the community by creating awareness among schoolteachers and women groups.
A group of 24 teachers from government lower secondary and secondary
schools of Kathmandu valley and a group of 28 literate housewives were
selected. The intervention strategy for both the groups was training for 25
hours extended over five days. The training methods for both the groups
included short lectures, discussions, demonstrations and group works.
Lesson plan for each session was developed. Training and trainer's manuals
were developed taking in consideration the findings from Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs). The knowledge of teachers and housewives was evaluated
before the training, after two months and six months of training. The
families of school children were also evaluated at the same time.
Results
There was a significant improvement in the knowledge of schoolteachers on
effectiveness of antibiotics, vitamins/tonics, cough preparations, DPT
vaccine, effects of multiple drug use and factors affecting quality of
drugs.
There was a significant improvement in knowledge of families of school
children on use of antibiotics and precautions for using drugs other than
antibiotics in specific conditions, effectiveness of cough preparations,
handling of expired drugs and drugs remaining after use at home.
There was a significant improvement in knowledge of women on
effectiveness of antibiotics, use of antibiotics, effects of
inappropriate administration of antibiotics and precautions for using
antibiotics in specific conditions, cough preparations and DPT vaccine,
precautions for using drugs other than antibiotics in specific
conditions, effects of multiple drug use, reasons for preparing in
different dosage forms and factors affecting the quality of drugs.
The training strategy has been effective in improving knowledge of
households in different aspects of drug use through women. However, the
strategy of improving households' knowledge through schoolteachers via
children has limited effects. Therefore, small group training directly to
women including several messages can be effective but improving
households' knowledge through teachers via students should focus on a few
key messages only.
The study was carried out with the financial support of APUA
International, Boston. We acknowledge Pro. S.Levyy, President, for his
interest in this study.
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