Effect of educational interventions on pharmacovigilance awareness among M.B.B.S. internee’s in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has played a major role in detection of previously unobserved ADRs. In spite of setting up ADR monitoring centres, only 6-10% of all ADRs are reported which has been contributed to the lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals. This study was planned to address this aspect. To evaluate and compare the effect of educational intervention in enhancing the knowledge of MBBS internee’s regarding pharmacovigilance.Methods: A cross sectional, educational interventional observational study was conducted using two copies of a pretested validated questionnaire (pre & post CME) with 17 questions among 130 MBBS internees. They were subjected to a Continuous Medical Education on pharmacovigilance. A hand’s on training on ADR reporting was also conducted in which they were divided into 10 batches and  asked to fill a Central Drugs Standard Control Organization Adverse Drug Reporting form on the case scenario given to them and forms were analyzed.Results: Out of 130 internees, 114 (87.69%) and 98 (75.38%) had completely filled them. The overall awareness about pharmacovigilance increased from 62.50% to 82.25% (p< 0.0001). There was a statistically significant increase in mean value from 14.38 ± 0.3020 to 18.92 ± 0.2860 (p< 0.0001) on analyzing the knowledge scores. 90% of ADR forms revealed substantial errors, which were explained to the participants.Conclusions: This study clearly shows that early sensitization through educational interventions at internship phase of M.B.B.S. will increase the number of ADRs being reported in our country

A questionnaire based study to assess feedback on teaching methodology and evaluation methods in pharmacology

Background: The reviewing of teaching and evaluation methods by feedback from students and modification is very important for further development and restructuring of medical education in future. The curriculum that we follow needs to be assessed periodically as it highlights the strengths as well as points out the fallacies, which are required to improve the medical teaching.Methods: The present study was carried out at Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in a total of 100 third year MBBS students. Pre-validated questionnaire was used. Suggestions were also enquired regarding the modifications needed in pharmacology teaching methods.Results: Out of the topic of interest in pharmacology, CNS ranks first with 28%, followed by CVS with 20%. Regarding the topic to be added in regular Pharmacology teaching, 37% preferred on case study and treatment discussion, while 32% preferred group discussion and 16% for quiz. Among the students 54% preferred text books only for studying pharmacology. Regarding the special topics to be discussed in pharmacology, 31% opted for paediatric pharmacology. The students have also suggested for clinical based teaching.Conclusions: The results of present study can serve as positive feedback to make the teaching programme more interesting. A well designed and systematic prospective research needs to be carried out, so that students get updated every year. It can also pave way for a rational prescribing practice after acquiring a proper and updated knowledge about Pharmacology as part of the undergraduate teaching programme

Effect of educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude on prescribing amongst interns of a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study

Background: Prescribing correct therapy is the essential part of physicians and therefore, adequate knowledge and confidence on drugs efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience is important. Understanding the knowledge and perceptions of medical students will help to identify the problems in clinical pharmacology teaching. Prescribing performance and competence can be significantly improved by training and giving feedback to the prescriber. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the effect of educational intervention in enhancing the knowledge of medical interns on prescribing practice.Methods: A Cross sectional, Educational Interventional observational study was conducted using two copies of a pretested validated questionnaire (Pre & Post CME) with 15 questions among 110 MBBS interns. They were subjected to a continuous medical education on rational prescription writing followed by a hand’s on training on prescription writing in which they were divided into 9 batches and asked to prescribe for the case scenario given to them and the same was audited and feedback was given.Results: Out of 110 internees’, 105 (95.50%) and 95 (96.90%) had completely filled the pre & post educational intervention questionnaire. The overall knowledge and attitude of interns has improved after the intervention. Significant increase (P value < 0.0001) in the Mean + Standard deviation value from 5.81 + 2.1 to 7.35 + 3.18 is noted on applying Paired t Test. All the prescriptions were rational. The formats of their prescriptions were scrutinized and the precise way of writing the same was explained to the interns.Conclusions: This study clearly shows that early sensitization of Physicians about rational prescription writing during Internship phase by means of educational intervention/training program can reduce the number of prescription errors

Knowledge, attitude and practice of hypertension among hypertensive patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Hypertension is a chronic disease and an important risk factor for cardiovascular complications. The increase in prevalence of hypertension is attributed to age of population, urbanization, sedentary habits, lack of physical activity, obesity, alcohol consumption and exposure to continuous stress. Regular anti-hypertensive medications can reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hypertension and to assess the drug compliance in hypertensive patients.Methods: This study was a cross sectional questionnaire based, conducted among 200 hypertensive patients attending hypertension clinic (Department of Medicine) of Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India from October to December 2018. A close-ended questionnaire was given to the patients, which comprised of 16 questions on knowledge (5), attitude (5) and practice (6). Data was analyzed and expressed in descriptive statistics.Results: The commonly prescribed anti-hypertensive medications were calcium channel blockers (79%) and β blockers (26.5%). Knowledge regarding hypertension, normal BP, symptoms and complications was 74%, 54.5%, 41.5% and 37.5% respectively. Positive attitude regarding regular medications, role of drugs, diet control, salt restriction and physical activity was found in 94%, 40.5%, 74%, 76% and 67% respectively. Regular BP measurement, follow up, salt restriction and exercise were practiced by 77%, 77%, 72% and 9% of patients respectively.Conclusions: Present study reflected a lack of knowledge among hypertensive patients regarding normal BP, symptoms and complications. A positive attitude and practice were observed among the patients except for practice of regular exercise. Hence, emphasize on awareness about symptoms, complications and importance of physical activity should be improved particularly among male patients

A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL ENDPOINT STUDY TO EVALUATE THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF CLEARLIV TABLETS IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective effect of clearliv tablets with silymarin in patients with alcoholic liver disease.Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel group interventional clinical endpoint study (Phase IIa). Patients attending general medicine outpatient department were screened for alcoholic liver disease using the serum biochemical liver function test and ultrasonogram abdomen and tested whether they satisfy the selection criteria, and 24 patients were then enrolled in the study. The study drug, namely clearliv tablets of Apex Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., was administered to Group A and tablet silymarin was administered to Group B from day 1 to day 56. Patients were reviewed once in 2 weeks. Liver function test was repeated, and patients were enquired of their well-being and any adverse events.Results: The demographic characters and body weight of the subjects showed no significant difference between the groups. There is a significant improvement (p&lt;0.05) in the aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TB) levels on 28th and 56th days in both silymarin and clearliv groups. Of the 2 groups, there is higher significance of improvement in clearliv group (p&lt;0.001), compared to silymarin group. Clearliv group started showing a significant reduction in AST and ALT levels in the first 14 days of the study period. On comparing the mean percentage reduction in the levels of AST (35.7% and 35%), ALT (26.7% and 24.3%), and TB (26.7% and 25%), it was found that clearliv is showing a better percentage of reduction of the above parameters compared to silymarin. There were reports of adverse effects such as loss of appetite and gastritis in both the groups.Conclusion: This clinical study proves that clearliv is functioning as a hepatoprotective drug. It is offering a better hepatoprotection compared to silymarin. Clearliv tablets can be indicated for the management of liver dysfunction, which occurs due to alcoholic liver damage. It may also be used in similar manner in cases of viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver damage, acute and chronic hepatitis

Effect of educational interventions on pharmacovigilance awareness among M.B.B.S. internee's in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has played a major role in detection of previously unobserved ADRs. In spite of setting up ADR monitoring centres, only 6-10% of all ADRs are reported which has been contributed to the lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals. This study was planned to address this aspect. To evaluate and compare the effect of educational intervention in enhancing the knowledge of MBBS internee's regarding pharmacovigilance. Methods: A cross sectional, educational interventional observational study was conducted using two copies of a pretested validated questionnaire (pre and post CME) with 17 questions among 130 MBBS internees. They were subjected to a Continuous Medical Education on pharmacovigilance. A hand's on training on ADR reporting was also conducted in which they were divided into 10 batches and asked to fill a Central Drugs Standard Control Organization Adverse Drug Reporting form on the case scenario given to them and forms were analyzed. Results: Out of 130 internees, 114 (87.69%) and 98 (75.38%) had completely filled them. The overall awareness about pharmacovigilance increased from 62.50% to 82.25% (p< 0.0001). There was a statistically significant increase in mean value from 14.38 +/- 0.3020 to 18.92 +/- 0.2860 (p< 0.0001) on analyzing the knowledge scores. 90% of ADR forms revealed substantial errors, which were explained to the participants. Conclusions: This study clearly shows that early sensitization through educational interventions at internship phase of M.B.B.S. will increase the number of ADRs being reported in our country. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2016; 5(1.000): 149-154

Evaluation of wound healing effect of colostrum and curcumin cream in rat excision wound model

Background: Proper wound healing is very crucial for the reconstruction of injured tissues. Compared to the conventional dressings, currently there are many novel biological wound dressings and healing agents containing colostrum which has many advantages. Aim &amp; Objective: This experimental study was done to evaluate the effect of colostrum and curcumin cream dressing and compare it with that of conventional Povidone iodine dressing. Methods: The rats were anesthetized and excision wounds were created. Wounds were then measured with a standard measuring scale on the day of wounding and then subsequently at a time interval of 4 days till day 20, then on alternate days. After tracing the wound area was treated with the Test and Standard drugs on Day 1,4,8,12,16 and 20. The data was then analysed using Chi square, one-way ANOVA and two tailed t test using Graph pad prism software version 5.0. Results: Efficacy of Colostrum 10% &amp;Curcumin 1% cream (test) was equal to that of povidone iodine 10% (standard) cream with respect to wound contraction and wound healing. But, with respect to the rate of wound healing, Colostrum 10% &amp; Curcumin 1% cream treated group was better compared to the povidone iodine 10% cream treated group. Conclusion: Colostrum plus Curcumin cream has shown a better wound healing at a short time span in excisional wound model in rats, when compared to the conventional povidone iodine cream. Thus, the Colostrum plus curcumin cream appear to be an economical and safe alternative to costly therapies like growth factors for wound healin

Effect of educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude on prescribing amongst interns of a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study

Background: Prescribing correct therapy is the essential part of physicians and therefore, adequate knowledge and confidence on drugs efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience is important. Understanding the knowledge and perceptions of medical students will help to identify the problems in clinical pharmacology teaching. Prescribing performance and competence can be significantly improved by training and giving feedback to the prescriber. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the effect of educational intervention in enhancing the knowledge of medical interns on prescribing practice.Methods: A Cross sectional, Educational Interventional observational study was conducted using two copies of a pretested validated questionnaire (Pre &amp; Post CME) with 15 questions among 110 MBBS interns. They were subjected to a continuous medical education on rational prescription writing followed by a hand’s on training on prescription writing in which they were divided into 9 batches and asked to prescribe for the case scenario given to them and the same was audited and feedback was given.Results: Out of 110 internees’, 105 (95.50%) and 95 (96.90%) had completely filled the pre &amp; post educational intervention questionnaire. The overall knowledge and attitude of interns has improved after the intervention. Significant increase (P value &lt; 0.0001) in the Mean + Standard deviation value from 5.81 + 2.1 to 7.35 + 3.18 is noted on applying Paired t Test. All the prescriptions were rational. The formats of their prescriptions were scrutinized and the precise way of writing the same was explained to the interns.Conclusions: This study clearly shows that early sensitization of Physicians about rational prescription writing during Internship phase by means of educational intervention/training program can reduce the number of prescription errors

Evaluation of Wound Healing Effect of Colostrum and Curcumin Cream in Rat Excision Wound Model

Background: Proper wound healing is very crucial for the reconstruction of injured tissues. Compared to the conventional dressings, currently there are many novel biological wound dressings and healing agents containing colostrum which has many advantages. Aim &amp; Objective: This experimental study was done to evaluate the effect of colostrum and curcumin cream dressing and compare it with that of conventional Povidone iodine dressing. Methods: The rats were anesthetized and excision wounds were created. Wounds were then measured with a standard measuring scale on the day of wounding and then subsequently at a time interval of 4 days till day 20, then on alternate days. After tracing the wound area was treated with the Test and Standard drugs on Day 1,4,8,12,16 and 20. The data was then analysed using Chi square, one-way ANOVA and two tailed t test using Graph pad prism software version 5.0. Results: Efficacy of Colostrum 10% &amp;Curcumin 1% cream (test) was equal to that of povidone iodine 10% (standard) cream with respect to wound contraction and wound healing. But, with respect to the rate of wound healing, Colostrum 10% &amp; Curcumin 1% cream treated group was better compared to the povidone iodine 10% cream treated group. Conclusion: Colostrum plus Curcumin cream has shown a better wound healing at a short time span in excisional wound model in rats, when compared to the conventional povidone iodine cream. Thus, the Colostrum plus curcumin cream appear to be an economical and safe alternative to costly therapies like growth factors for wound healin