Rational Drug Use by Patients Applying at Ear Nose Throat Polyclinic

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine information, attitude, and behaviors of patients that apply at ear, nose, throat polyclinic regarding rational drug use. Method:The study that was planned as a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 273 patients that applied at ear nose throat polyclinic of a university hospital. Data was collected using Patient Information Form and Rational Drug Use Information Form and descriptive statistics were used in the analysis.Findings: Average age of patients were 40.71±15.21 year and 38.4% of the patients had higher education degree. It was found that 73.3% of the patients did not have knowledge about rational drug use, 59% received information about drugs they used from the doctor, 52.7% read the drug prospectus, 86.4% used the drugs prescribed by prescription, 75.8% used analgesics without consulting the doctor, 75.1% knew the storage conditions of drugs, 73.3% knew the purpose of use of drugs, and 82.4% knew the method of administration of the drug they used. Attitudes that were not in line with rational drug use were determined as taking nonprescription drug, increasing dosages used, abandoning drug when symptoms end, taking the same drug when symptoms repeat, seeking solutions by oneself in case of side effects, receiving and giving drug advices from relatives, and to acquaintances, and not investigating drug interactions. Conclusion and Recommendations:It was observed that the patients did not receive information about rational drug use. The results of the research showed that the patients had positive as well as negative attitudes about drug use. In line with these results, it is recommended that patients be educated on rational drug use.