Intervention for Harms from Drugs and Health Products among Patients with Diabetes and Hypertension in the Catchment Area of Wat Mai Thung Kha Community Clinic, Rattaphum District, Songkhla

Abstract

Objective: To reduce harms from drugs and health products (HDHP) among patients with diabetic mellitus  and hypertension (DMHT) in the catchment area of Wat Mai Thung Kha Community Clinic, Rattaphum District, Songkhla. Method: This study was an action research addressing HDHP problems in 64 DMHT patients in the catchment area of ​​Wat Mai Thung Kha Community Clinic. The intervention included 1) education of DMHT patients with 4 suspicions and 2 refers and 2) To establish a surveillance network to manage HDHP problems or smart volunteers (village health volunteers) which provided knowledge at home of DMHT patients. Dependent variables were knowledge and abilities on drugs and health products (DHP). Data were collected before and after the intervention by using questionnaires developed in the study. Results: Overall knowledge of DHP among patients increased significantly from 6.15 ± 3.08 (from a full score of 12) to 7.92 ± 2.27 after intervention (P <0.001). For each dimension of knowledge, patients had an increased knowledge of general principles of drug uses (2.70 ± 1.31 and 3.45 ± 0.83 out of 4 points respectively, P <0.001); DHP advertising literacy increased (0.61 ± 0.68 and 1.11 ± 0.78 from the full score of 2, respectively, P <0.001); knowledge on buying traditional medicines and dangers of steroids increased (1.13 ± 1.15 and 1.98 ± 1.23 out of 3 points, respectively; P <0.001); 14.1% and 28.1% of the patients knew how to locate the expiration date of DHP before and after intervention, respectively (P = 0.049); knowledge of drug storage increased (1.58 ± 0.77 and 1.92 ± 0.27 from the full score of 2, respectively, P = 0.002). The patient's ability to examine DHP increased significantly from 2.04 ± 1.69 (from the full score of 4) before the intervention to 2.67 ± 1.56, after intervention (P = 0.021). if considering the ability in each aspect, it was found that 39.1% and 59.4% of the subjects could locate drug registration number before and after the intervention, respectively (P = 0.015); 53.1% and 75.0% could locate the FDA symbol on the food label before and after the intervention, respectively (P = 0.009); 59.4% and 68.8% can check for expiration date of DHP before and after the intervention, respectively (P = 0.260); and 53.1% and 64.1% had DHP advertising literacy before and after the intervention, respectively (P = 0.180). Conclusion: Intervention for HDHP at homes of patients with DMHT improved patients’ knowledge and abilities regarding drugs and health products.