The Development of Rational Drug Use Literacy Promoting of Chronic Patients in Phichit Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1) study rational drug use literacy among chronic patients in Phichit province, 2) develop a model for rational drug use literacy enhancement; and 3) study the effectiveness of the model for rational drug use literacy enhancement. The samples were 100 chronic patients registered as patients of Thanong Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital, Thanong subdistrict, Pho Thale district, Phichit province. The research instrument was the assessment of rational drug use literacy of Thai people. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and comparative analysis of knowledge scores on rational drug use, before and after attending model, using paired sample t-test with confident interval 95% (CI).

            The results showed that the average score of knowledge of rational drug use before the training program was 8.81±6.48 points, which was considered an insufficient level. Researchers used the information obtained to develop a model for enhancing knowledge of rational drug use by V-shape and Nutbeam models and measured the effectiveness of the model. It was found that the overall average score before and after attending the model was significantly different at p<0.05. When considering each component, it was found that decision making about medications and health care and telling others about drug use and health care, there were also found significant differences between before and after using the model.