HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS MEDICATION USE IN BREASTFEEDING: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Purpose: Most of postpartum women have to take at least one medication; so safety of medication needs to be considered when prescribing and dispensing the medication to them. In 2017, 11% of 815 questions received by Pharmacy Drug Information Services at seven clinics in Dungun were related to medication use in breastfeeding. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate attitude of healthcare providers (HCPs) and to investigate the effect of knowledge about medication use in breastfeeding among HCPs; pre and post educational intervention.  Method: An interventional study was conducted among medical officers, assistant medical officers, pharmacists and pharmacist assistants from seven clinics in district of Dungun, Malaysia. The questionnaires were distributed during pre and post-intervention period. The interventions in this study were continuous medical education (CME) and booklet regarding medication use for breastfeeding women. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Studies, (SPSS) and presented as frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Result: A total of 50 HCPs were enrolled in this study and over 20% of them advised mother to discontinue breastfeeding whenever she had to take any medication. The knowledge of HCPs about medication use in breastfeeding women was significantly improved (Z= -5.917, p<0.001) after the educational intervention.  Conclusion: CME and simplified booklet tend to have positive impact on the knowledge of HCPs regarding medication use in breastfeeding.