[Establishment of knowledge, attitudes and opinions of general population about rational use of medicines]. / Establecimiento de los conocimientos, actitudes y opiniones de la población sobre el uso racional de medicamentos.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the level of knowledge, opinions and attitudes of medicines in general population. METHODS: Descriptive transversal study realised in a sample of≥18 years old public health users from primary health centres in the city of Barcelona. Sample has been chosen using a two phases sampling, stratified by district, gender and age. Questionnaire administered face-to-face. SPSSv15 used for the analysis. STUDY PERIOD: December 2011. RESULTS: 484 surveys has been done (IC 95%, α=5%). 53% were women and 21,3% had university studies. Medicine use: 81% had taken medicines in the last 3 months; average of 2,34. TECHNICAL CONCEPTS: 80% of medicated people know what they take and its indication. 55,6% don't know active ingredient concept. Only 35% recognise the active ingredient showed in the box of the medicine (3 cases shown) and 44,5% not one. 22,7% know the meaning of security concepts contraindication, adverse effect and drug interaction. 20% ignore. This fact grows with age and reduces with high study levels. OPINION AND ATTITUDE: Global rational use of medicines indicator obtains 5,03 from 10: 3,42 opinion and 6,51 attitude. 70% of people think there is no rational use of medicines in general and 21,3% would promote raising awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Low level of knowledge and poor attitude and opinion in rational use of medicines have been shown in this study. It is necessary involve citizens and improve their basic knowledge to promote rational use of medicines.

Establecimiento de los conocimientos, actitudes y opiniones de la población sobre el uso racional de medicamentos / Establishment of knowledge, attitudes and opinions of general population about rational use of medicines

OBJETIVO: Identificar el nivel de conocimientos, actitudes y opiniones respecto al uso de medicamentos (UM) en población general. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo transversal, cuantitativo, realizado en usuarios de la sanidad pública ≥ 18 años asignada a centros de atención primaria de la ciudad de Barcelona. Muestreo bietápico, estratificación: barrio, sexo y edad. Administración presencial de un cuestionario propio validado. Análisis: SPSSv15. Período estudio: diciembre 2011. RESULTADOS: Cuatrocientas ochenta y cuatro encuestas (IC 95%, α = 5%).53% mujeres; 21,3% estudios universitarios. UM : 81% ha tomado medicamentos en los últimos 3 meses; media, 1,9. Conceptos técnicos: El 80% de los que se medican saben indicar qué medicamentos toman y para qué. En el 90% de los casos no saben indicar el nombre del principio activo (pa). El 55,6% no sabe definir el concepto pa. Sólo un 35% reconoce algún pa indicado en el envase de tres medicamentos diferentes y un 44,5% no reconoce ninguno. El 22,7% conoce el significado de contraindicación, efecto adverso e interacción medicamentosa. El 20% tiene total desconocimiento y este aumenta con la edad y disminuye con el nivel de estudios. Opinión y actitud: Valor del indicador global de uso racional (IGUR) de medicamentos, 5,03 puntos: 6,18 praxis, 5,02 información, 3,85 uso sostenible y 3,49 nuevos medicamentos/genéricos. El 70% de los encuestados cree que no se hace un uso racional de medicamentos y el 21,3% cree que es necesaria mayor concienciación social. CONCLUSIONES: Los conocimientos, actitudes y opiniones de los ciudadanos sobre medicamentos son bajos. Es necesario implicar a los ciudadanos y mejorar sus conocimientos básicos para avanzar en el uso racional

OBJECTIVE: Identify the level of knowledge, opinions and attitudes of medicines in general population. METHODS: Descriptive transversal study realised in a sample of ≥ 18 years old public health users from primary health centres in the city of Barcelona. Sample has been chosen using a two phases sampling, stratified by district, gender and age. Questionnaire administered face-to-face. SPSSv15 used for the analysis. Study period: December 2011. RESULTS: 484 surveys has been done (IC 95%, α = 5%).53% were women and 21,3% had university studies. Medicine use: 81% had taken medicines in the last 3 months; average of 2,34. Technical concepts: 80% of medicated people know what they take and its indication.55,6% don't know active ingredient concept. Only 35% recognise the active ingredient showed in the box of the medicine (3 cases shown) and 44,5% not one.22,7% know the meaning of security concepts contraindication, adverse effect and drug interaction.20% ignore. This fact grows with age and reduces with high study levels. Opinion and attitude: Global rational use of medicines indicator obtains 5,03 from 10: 3,42 opinion and 6,51 attitude.70% of people think there is no rational use of medicines in general and 21,3% would promote raising awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Low level of knowledge and poor attitude and opinion in rational use of medicines have been shown in this study. It is necessary involve citizens and improve their basic knowledge to promote rational use of medicines