Effect of educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude on prescribing amongst interns of a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20160746Keywords:
MBBS interns, Prescribing practice, Educational interventionAbstract
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.
References
Chaurasia RC. Pharmacology exercise for undergraduate: MLNMC model. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2013;2(4):495-7.
Mohan L, Chogtu B, Adiga S, Shenoy S, Bairy KL, Kishore A. Undergraduate medical students’ perceptions regarding personal drug selection exercise. International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences. 2012;1(2):61-7.
Upadhyaya P, Seth V, Sharma M, Ahmed M, Moghe VV, Khan ZY, et al. Prescribing knowledge in the light of undergraduate clinical pharmacology and therapeutics teaching in India: views of first-year post graduate students. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2012;3:47-53.
Velo GP, Minuz P. Medication errors: prescribing faults and prescription errors. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 2009;67(6):624-8.
Pote S, Tiwari P, D’Cruz S. Medication prescribing errors in a public teaching hospital in India: A prospective study. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2007;5(1):17-20.
Kamarudin G, Penm J, Chaar B. Educational interventions to improve prescribing competency: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2013;3:e003291.
Ajemigbitse AA. Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital. Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy. 2014;5(1).
Mundhava S, Lalwani U, Pillai A. Prescribing knowledge, attitude, practice of interns and post-graduates of a tertiary care hospital in India. World journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. 2000;4(6):451-8.
Islam Z. Assessment of Bangladeshi Interns' Knowledge of Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Prescribing. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2014;4(4):43-51.
Oshikoya KA. Interns' knowledge of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics after undergraduate and on-going internship training in Nigeria: a pilot study. BMC Medical Education. 2009;9:50.
Pati RR. Prescribing patterns among medical interns at the rural health centers of a medical college, Manipal, Karnataka. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 2004;29(3).
Mundhava S. Prescribing knowledge, attitude, practice of interns and post-graduates of a tertiary care hospital in India. World Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences. 1998;4(6)451-8.
Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Prescribing pattern of interns in a primary health centerin India. Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy. 2014;5(2).
