The Relationship Between Health Literacy in Rational Drug Use and the Medication Use Behaviors of Hospitalized Patients
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Abstract
Background: Irrational drug use is a global public health concern. Rational drug use literacy empowers patients to appropriately manage their health during illness, while safe medication use behaviors can reduce healthcare costs.
Objectives: This descriptive study aimed to examine the relationship between rational drug use literacy and medication use behaviors among inpatients at Pranangklao and Pathum Thani hospitals.
Methods: The sample consisted of 155 inpatients admitted to general medical and surgical wards. Data were collected using a rational drug use literacy assessment and a medication use behavior questionnaire. The content validity indices were 0.96 and 0.93, respectively, with a KR-20 reliability of 0.85 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.76. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The findings revealed that participants had an inadequate level of rational drug use literacy ( =29.19, SD=6.77), while their medication use behaviors were at a good level ( =2.18, SD=0.41). Rational drug use literacy showed a statistically significant positive correlation with medication use behaviors (r=0.47, p<.01).
Conclusions: The results indicate that inpatients place importance on taking medications and self-care in line with physicians’ recommendations. However, improving rational drug use literacy, particularly in understanding drug and health information, is essential to enhance the appropriate and safe use of medications.
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บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวิทยาลัยพยาบาลบรมราชชนนี จังหวัดนนทบุรี
ข้อความที่ปรากฏในบทความแต่ละเรื่องในวารสารวิชาการเล่มนี้เป็นความคิดเห็นส่วนตัวของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับวิทยาลัยพยาบาลบรมราชชนนี จังหวัดนนทบุรี และคณาจารย์ท่านอื่น ในวิทยาลัยฯ แต่อย่างใด ความรับผิดชอบองค์ประกอบทั้งหมดของบทความแต่ละเรื่องเป็นของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่าน หากมีความผิดพลาดใด ๆ ผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านจะรับผิดชอบบทความของตนเองแต่ผู้เดียว
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