Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON PATIENT COUNSELLING IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA

Charitha Mukkamala*, K. Naveena Theresa, B. Harika, Dr. Blessy K. George, Dr. Shibi Mary Thomas and Dr. Balakeshwa Ramaiah

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patient education has proven to enable the patient make better therapeutic choices and improve patient medication compliance. Thus, a pharmacist lead patient education session is necessary for better medication adherence and prevention of adverse events. The study was carried out in Bangalore Baptist Hospital with the objective to evaluate overall health status on counselling the patients on their medications (side effects, adverse drug reactions, missing dose, double dosing, interaction, interventions and irrational use of antibiotics) diet and lifestyle modifications. Methodology: The study was conducted through a face-to-face interview using a questionnaire with 300 patients who presented at the in and out patient wards of various departments of the hospital. This data was stored confidentially and was subjected to further analysis using appropriate software for defining the results of the study. Results: The results have shown the major drug related problem was drug interactions (60%) followed by Adverse drug reactions (18%). It was found that 38.67% of the patients had university level of education. And it was reported that the major source of drug information to the patients was portal site search (47%) followed by inquiry to pharmacists (21.34%). Conclusion: Patient counseling at the time of discharge and regular follow-up improves patient‘s medication adherence and treatment satisfaction and consequently patient‘s treatment outcomes. This brief targeted intervention at the initiation of maintenance drug therapy moderates the high risk of non-adherence and discontinuation; it helps establish a routine of daily self-medication.

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