300092
Irrational Use of Medicines: An Assessment of Turkish Patients in Primary Care Settings
The purpose of this study was to assess rational medicine use behaviors of individuals. To that end, three hundred eighty-three individuals were randomly selected from five primary healthcare centers in Istanbul, Turkey. The instrument, developed specifically for the Turkish context, included 26 questions on rational use of prescription medicines, as well additional questions on socio-demographic characteristics of participants.
Initial analyses indicated wide spread problems with misuse of medicines. Even though a majority of participants had received instructions from their providers, most of them did not understand the instructions provided. Age and education level were among the significant predictors of rational use of medicines.
The findings of this study strongly indicate that irrational use of medicines is a serious public health problem in Turkey and that strategic policy efforts by the central government are needed for rational use of medicines targeting all stakeholders.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related nursing
Learning Objectives:
Assess Turkish primary care patients’ irrational use of medicines.
Evaluate predictors of irrational use of medicines for Turkish primary care patients.
Formulate policy priorities to improve rational and responsibile use of medicines.
Keyword(s): International Health, Public Health Policy
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been actively involved in public health issues in the US and Turkey with numerous publications and presentations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.