A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF P-DRUG IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Objective: Postgraduates represent the future generation of practitioners and there aren't many studies on the P-drug idea that specifically target them. Hence, we have taken up this study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of P-drug among the postgraduates. Methods: A prospective observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. Participants' responses were gathered using a pre-validated questionnaire. It evaluated participants' understanding of the P-drug concept, attitudes about P-drugs as treatments for illnesses, and actual P-drug prescribing behaviours. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26 was used to analyze data after compiling data in the Excel sheet. Results: Out of 230 participants, majority were the females (67.8%). 63% of participants were aware of the “rational use of medicines,” and around 57% of them knew about the P-drug concept. 44.8% were aware of STEP criteria which is applied to select P-drug. Only 66 were practising with the P-drug list and the majority of them opined that teaching programmes are necessary to create awareness about the practice of the P-drug. Conclusion: It is encouraging that the current study's findings point to reasonable drug usage rather than irrational use. The P-drug idea is a useful instrument for enhancing medical treatment and encouraging ethical drug usage. Furthermore, additional research has to be done to determine how P-drug use affects patient outcomes and healthcare expenditures over the long run.