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Impact of medicine-related information on medicine purchase and use by literate consumers
Vijay R Thawani, Kunda J Gharpure, Smita D Sontakke
Department of Pharmacology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Correspondence Address:
Vijay R Thawani
Department of Pharmacology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
India
Aims: To measure impact of information, education, and communication intervention (IEC) on rational medicine use, purchase, and stocking behavior.
Materials and Methods: This was a pre- and post-design, interventional study. Base data were collected in first visit, using pre tested questionnaire from 500 respondents, who were of either gender, English speaking, at least graduates, permanent residents, and willing to participate. IEC was framed based on problems identified from this data. First intervention was handouts distributed in the second visit, containing information on cost saving in medicine purchase. Second intervention was a lecture session on medicine prices, rational use of medicines, and tips on saving on medicine purchase. Five articles about medicine use and price differences were published in the local newspaper, over 10 days, formed third intervention. After 1 month, post-intervention data was collected using same instrument with some additional questions. Results were analyzed by Chi-square test using Graph Pad prism Version 3.0.
Results: Awareness about price variation, self-medication, expiry period, generic and brand quality increased post-intervention. Attitudes toward new, costly, brands, injections, sharing and reusing old prescriptions changed post-intervention. Behavioral changes in stocking habits, adherence to doctors«SQ» advice, getting cash memo, comparing prices, reading labels, were seen post-intervention.
Conclusion: People carry false notions about medicines which influence their use and habits. This intervention successfully changed behavior and could bring awareness on many aspects of medicine use.
How to cite this article:
Thawani VR, Gharpure KJ, Sontakke SD. Impact of medicine-related information on medicine purchase and use by literate consumers.Indian J Pharmacol 2014;46:420-424
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How to cite this URL:
Thawani VR, Gharpure KJ, Sontakke SD. Impact of medicine-related information on medicine purchase and use by literate consumers. Indian J Pharmacol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2023 May 28 ];46:420-424
Available from: https://www.ijp-online.com/article.asp?issn=0253-7613;year=2014;volume=46;issue=4;spage=420;epage=424;aulast=Thawani;type=0 |
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