ABSTRACT
Background: In general, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are global problems causing both morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous ADR reporting is important to monitor adverse effects of medicines but under reporting is still very prevalent so, there is a need of constant monitoring and rectification of system of Pharmacovigilance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the healthcare professionals about Pharmacovigilance and to identify the reason for under reporting of ADRs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a pretested questionnaire among doctors with minimum qualification MBBS or B.D.S. including faculties, senior and junior residents. Subsequently, analysis of association between education and experience was done by chi square test at P-value <0.05.Results: A pretested questionnaire was distributed among 403 doctors and 240 (59.16%) responded voluntarily. In general, 131 (54.58%) participants noted lack of time to report ADR while 90 (37.50%) participants noted no benefit of reporting already known ADR. On the other hand, total 104 (43.33%) participants were aware about need to report a serious adverse event during “Clinical Trial” within 24 hours to the Ethics Committee. Only 87 (36.25%) participants noted a need of reporting of already known ADR.Conclusions: Participants had good knowledge and attitude towards pharmacovigilance, but the actual practice of ADR reporting is still deficient among them that can be improved by sensitization training and involvement of grass root level health care workers.
ABSTRACT
Background: Infants and children constitute a large proportion of the population in developing countries. In Gujarat, studies on drug use patterns in the pediatric age group are lacking in the Saurashtra region hospitals. The objective was to study demographical information and the utilization pattern in the in patients of the pediatric ward. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational drug utilization study was carried out over a period of 6 months in 630 pediatric inpatients of the pediatric department of Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Jamnagar, a tertiary care teaching hospital. Analyzed data included demographic details and drugs prescribed in respective patients. Results: Most commonly affected age group was 1-5 years, boys in 62.06% and girls in 37.94% and 40.16% were admitted in the pediatric ward. Acute gastroenteritis and pneumonia had the highest admission rate with 31.90% and 22.38%, respectively. The majority of children were prescribed 5-6 drugs. Ceftriaxone (64.92%) was the top most frequently prescribed antibiotic, followed by amoxicillin (49.21%). Prescribing drugs were mainly from essential drug list (64.44%) and by generic names (61.89%). Drugs prescribed orally in 66.10% and by injections in 33.90%. Conclusion: It is quite evident that significantly large number of children were from 1 to 5 year age group. The majority of the children were admitted in inpatients of the pediatric ward for acute gastroenteritis, followed by pneumonia and meningitis. Most frequently prescribed antibiotic group was cephalosporin, followed by penicillin group.
ABSTRACT
Background: Students are anxious and stressed during exams; so are not able to perform well in them. Counselling has been found to improve performance of students. Hence, we wanted to conduct academic counselling for medical students and evaluate it. Objective: To improve performance of medical students in exams through academic counselling (AC). Method: Faculty was trained on conducting AC through role play. A pre-test was taken to assess the baseline knowledge of students. AC of students was conducted. A post-test was then taken for the students. Marks of pre-test and post test were compared to see for improvement of students following our intervention. Feedback was taken from students on the effectiveness of counselling using a questionnaire based on 5-point Likert scale. Feedback was also taken from faculty. Results and interpretation: There was a marked improvement in post-test marks of students who underwent counselling. Feedback from students and faculties was positive. Conclusion: Faculty can guide students on study skills through AC. It can be conducted as formative feedback at mid-term or following internal exams of students.