Effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice of hepatitis B vaccine among medical students

Background: Aim of the study were to assess the impact of education on knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccine among medical students and to educate the students regarding Hepatitis B vaccination.Methods: Non-randomized before and after comparison study was conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV), assigning structured questionnaire of 26 different statements concerning knowledge, attitude and practice by pre and post educational intervention on Hepatitis B and its vaccination.Results: The study was conducted among 100 second year medical students. The response rate was 100%. There was statistically significant improvement in knowledge from pre-test mean scores for modes of transmission (87.4+4.70 vs 95.8+1.61; p=0.0001), preventive measures (92+0.47 vs 98+0.94; p=0.001) and Hepatitis B vaccine (71+4.72 to 84.7+6.65; p=0.0001) to post-test. While the increase in mean scores from pre-test for attitude (68.6+9.21 vs 77.43+11.1) and practice (55+25.41 vs 65.6+32.6) were statistically significant in post-test (p=0.0001; p=0.001 respectively).Conclusions: Structured educational intervention among medical students about Hepatitis B vaccination showed improved knowledge and behaviour and also increased the percentage of students willing to get screened and their participation in health education programmes related to Hepatitis B. However, there is slight lack of knowledge regarding the transmission of Hepatitis B and its vaccination schedule. In this regard, implementation and evaluation of educational intervention is needed as a preventative measure

A prospective observational study of prescription appropriateness of elderly hypertensive patients using Beers criteria in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: The prevalence of hypertension has been increased among the urban population especially among the elderly. Use of inappropriate medication is one of the major problems seen among elderly age group above 60 years who take more medication when compared to that of younger population. Inappropriate prescriptions can be avoided by identifying safer pharmacological alternatives and also utilizing non-pharmacological therapy. Quality and safety of prescribing in elderly patients is one of the global healthcare concern and efforts should be made to improve appropriateness of medication among this group of population. This study was done to assess the relationship between inappropriate medication use and its health outcomes in elderly hypertensive population.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 3 months, after getting approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. Total of 117 elderly hypertensive patients aged >60 years were analysed for three months duration for the rationality of medication prescribed using Beer’s criteria and the health outcome due to inappropriate medication use.Results: Out of 117 elderly hypertensive patients analysed, 49 (41.9%) were males and 68 (58.1%) were females. Most of the patients had associated co morbid illness like diabetes mellitus (48.7%), respiratory diseases (24.8%), cerebrovascular accident (30.8%), cardiovascular diseases (19.7%), fever (13.7%), anaemia (9.4%), etc. Out of 117 patients 10 drugs were used in 3.4% of cases. Antihypertensive drugs that were commonly used in our study was calcium channel blocker (52.1%), diuretics (42.7%), Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (36.8%), β-blockers (17.1%) and Angiotensin receptor blockers (11.1%). Adverse health effects like drug induced gastritis, electrolyte imbalance, metabolic dysfunction and renal impairment was seen in few patients because of inappropriate medication.Conclusions: Use of inappropriate medication is one of the major problems seen among elderly, because of the co morbid illness associated with the primary disease which leads to polypharmacy. Prescription inappropriateness was seen among 86.3% of elderly hypertensive patients as per Beers criteria which may be because of comorbid illness that was seen among these patients. It is necessary to implement certain policies in geriatric healthcare to prevent the poor outcome due to drug therapy.

Effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice of hepatitis B vaccine among medical students

Background: Aim of the study were to assess the impact of education on knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccine among medical students and to educate the students regarding Hepatitis B vaccination.Methods: Non-randomized before and after comparison study was conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV), assigning structured questionnaire of 26 different statements concerning knowledge, attitude and practice by pre and post educational intervention on Hepatitis B and its vaccination.Results: The study was conducted among 100 second year medical students. The response rate was 100%. There was statistically significant improvement in knowledge from pre-test mean scores for modes of transmission (87.4+4.70 vs 95.8+1.61; p=0.0001), preventive measures (92+0.47 vs 98+0.94; p=0.001) and Hepatitis B vaccine (71+4.72 to 84.7+6.65; p=0.0001) to post-test. While the increase in mean scores from pre-test for attitude (68.6+9.21 vs 77.43+11.1) and practice (55+25.41 vs 65.6+32.6) were statistically significant in post-test (p=0.0001; p=0.001 respectively).Conclusions: Structured educational intervention among medical students about Hepatitis B vaccination showed improved knowledge and behaviour and also increased the percentage of students willing to get screened and their participation in health education programmes related to Hepatitis B. However, there is slight lack of knowledge regarding the transmission of Hepatitis B and its vaccination schedule. In this regard, implementation and evaluation of educational intervention is needed as a preventative measure

A cross sectional study on self medication practice of analgesics among nursing students

Background: Self medication with analgesics is prevalent worldwide among medical students due to easy availability as over the counter drugs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on nursing students of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru. A Pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect relevant information on self medication of analgesics. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 90 students participated in the study. Practice of self-medication was reported by 87.3% nursing students. The most common condition for self-medication was headache (42.86%), followed by dysmenorrhoea (32.38%). Non seriousness of illness (69.4%) was the major reason followed by prior experience (62.6%) for seeking self medication. Most common source of drug information was previous prescription of a physician (61.2%) followed by pharmacist’s advice (46.7%). Among these students, 34.4% were unaware about adverse drug reactions and 51.1% were unaware about drug interactions. Conclusion: The present study indicates that self-medication is widely practiced among nursing students. Consumption of over the counter analgesics can mask the actual diagnosis of the underlying disease. It is also necessary to create awareness among the nursing students regarding the dangers of self medication

Cost variation analysis of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available in the Indian market

Background: Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) are used to treat a variety of conditions associated with pain and inflammation. Analysis of price variation among different brands of NSAIDS provides a guide for cost - effective prescribing and helps to reduce the financial burden on the patient and improves patient compliance. Aim: To analyze price variation of various single NSAID’s formulations available in the Indian market. Material & Methods: Price of NSAIDs manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies in India of same strength was obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties, January-March 2022. Difference between maximum and minimum price of the same formulation, cost ratio and percentage cost variation was calculated. Results: Large price variation was seen with Celecoxib 100mg capsule (476.6%) followed by Celecoxib 200mg capsule (402.3%),Nimesulide 100mg tablet (358.33%) and Paracetamol 500mg tablet (285.06).Price variation was lowest for Mefenamic acid 250mg tablet (8%). Among the syrup formulations, it was seen that there was a price variation of 29.5% for Paracetamol 125mg/5ml, 54.15% for Ibuprofen 100mg/5ml and 37.1% for Mefenamic acid 100mg/5ml. Among the injectable NSAID’s, price variation was maximum for Diclofenac 75mg/ml (441.39%). Diclofenac 1%w/w 30gm gel showed price variation of 264.86% among the topical NSAID’s.&nbsp