Drug Management Practice in School among Personnel in Nakhon Nayok

Abstract

Objective: To investigate drug lists and drug management in schools, as well as to determine causal factors of drug management practice in schools (DMPS) of personnel in nursing rooms. Methods: Two study samples were 1) schools in Nakorn Nayok (n=134) and 2) personnel on duty in the nursing rooms (n=134). Instruments in the study were survey on drug lists and drug management in schools and questionnaire on causal factors of DMPS. Results: Modern household medicines and medical supplies for first aids were available in all schools. Five most commonly used drugs were 1) analgesics 2) stomachic mixture 3) normal saline solutions and povidone-iodine 4) white mixture and 5) lotions for skin allergy. Antibiotics and drugs containing psuedoephredrine were also found. Ninety-four percent of the schools had nursing rooms and teachers on duty. Almost all of them had drug cabinets stored in appropriate conditions with clear and appropriate sign. Drug systems were well managed.  Attitudes, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control of DMPS together significantly predicted 76.8% of the variance in intention to perform DMPS (p<0.01). Furthermore, intention to perform DMPS and knowledge on drug use together significantly predicted 29.6% of the variance in DMPS (p<0.01). Conclusion: Intention to perform DMPS and knowledge of drug use directly affected DMPS. Thus, interventions for improving knowledge on drug use and encouraging the personnel to increase their intention on DMPS would promote better DMPS.