Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Rational Drug Utilization among Undergraduate Medical Students at Government Medical College Suryapet, Telangana

Introduction: Rational drug use refers to the precise administration of medications, including appropriate dosage, duration, clinical relevance and affordability. This study aims to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to the rational utilization of medications. Methods: The study involved 300 undergraduate medical students from Government Medical College Suryapet. Demographic information and KAP regarding medicine use were gathered through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including percentages and frequencies, were used for data analysis. Results: Socio-demographic data featured 18-20 years (60%), 20-23 years (30%), and >23 years (10%) age groups. Gender distribution was 45% male and 55% female. Year of study distribution was 30% 2nd year, 40% 3rd year, and 30% 4th year. Knowledge: Seventy percent of students familiar with over the counter (OTC) medicines, only 40% were aware of OTC medicines can be safely taken with prescriptions, and 55% acknowledged price disparities among different brands of the same medicine. Notably, 65% knew precautions for geriatric medicine use. Approximately 75% were informed about medicine expiry periods. Top of FormAttitude: Sixty percent disagreed that costlier medicines are superior to cheaper ones, and 55% disagreed that medicines from foreign multinational companies are better. 70% disagreed that mass communication is ineffective for educating people about medicines, while 15% believed doctors can solely rely on pharmaceutical industry-provided information. Practice: Eighty percent sought medical consultation before discontinuing medication, while 70% followed doctor’s advice diligently. Merely 10% acquired medicines through direct-to-consumer advertising, and 15% reused prescriptions for comparable ailments in others. Conclusion: The evaluation unveiled varying KAP levels concerning rational medicine use among undergraduate medical students. Thus, results emphasize the need for curriculum improvements and interventions to address gaps in their understanding and behaviours, contributing to better patient care.