Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SUDANESE ADOLESCENT SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE AND SAFE HANDLING OF MEDICINES

Sahar Mohamed Osman Mohamed and Kamal Addin Mohammad Ahmad Idris*

Abstract

Background: Use of medicines for treating illnesses is reported to be a common practice among adolescent students who often engage in autonomous health behavior. Their knowledge and attitude greatly decide their practice in the proper and safe handling the medications. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of adolescent secondary school students about the appropriate and safe handling of medicines. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional survey performed at four Sudanese secondary schools. A pre-structured and pre-piloted questionnaire composed of 32 questions was used to collect data from 286 randomly selected potential respondent students. Data was processed using Statistical Package for Social Science program (SPSS version 23). Association between students' knowledge, attitudes and practice and their sociodemographics were tested using Chi-Square test. P values qual to or less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Response rate was 100%. Respondents‟ knowledge, attitude and practice were 81%, 86%, 91.8%, respectively. Their knowledge regarding the drug-interaction provided an average of only 47.93% and that of antibiotics use was 43.8% in average. Doctors and pharmacists were the major sources of medication information for 87% of respondents. Respondents' school and gender had significant correlation with their knowledge (p = 0.000 and 0.009, respectively). Respondents' school had significant correlation (p = 0.000) with their proper practice. Conclusion: Respondent knowledge, attitude and practice about proper medicines handling were high. Interventions to improve respondents' knowledge and practice of safe and appropriate medicines handling shall be instituted.

Keywords: Sudanese, Adolescent, Students, Proper, Medication, Handling.