Investigation and Analysis of Rational Drug Use of Residents in Changshou District of Chongqing, China

Abstract

Objective: To acquire information about residents of Changshou District's knowledge levels and their behaviors of drug use, so that implementation strategies of rational drug use can be formulated accordingly to promote and spread health education of rational drug use.  Methods:  Online and offline surveys were randomly conducted about rational drug use conditions of residents in Changshou District by questionnaires. Online questionnaires were sent to residents of Changshou District by Wenjuanxing, an professional platform used for surveys. Offline questionnaires were mainly distributed to residents of communities in Changshou District. All the online and offline statistics were analyzed and counted. Results: Three hundred and nine (309) questionnaires were distributed (176 online questionnaires and 133 paper questionnaires), and the effective recovery rate was 75.4%. According to investigation and survey, conditions of resident’s rational drug use were optimistic. Only 8.15% residents who participated in the survey (or research subjects) took paracetamol tablets and vitamin C Yinqiao tablets (also known as VC Honeysuckle Pills) at the same time when they had a cold or fever. Among 8.15% residents, 5.15% frequently took paracetamol, caffeine and aspirin powder (also known as headache powder); 80.26%, checked expiration date of drugs before taking medicine; more than 50%, knew that drinking after taking medicines such as cephalosporin is prohibited. Common irrational problems caused by drug use were as follows: 40% research subjects took dietary supplements as drugs, and 28% of them failed to know the correct usage and dosage of drugs. Proportion of drugs that were taken with irrational usage and dosage were antibiotics (64%), antibacterial (52%), drugs for patients with diabetes mellitus (36%), drugs for patients with hyperlipidemia , hypertension and hyperglycemia (32%), vitamins (24%), drugs for treatment of common cold and cough(20%) and others. Conclusion: Publicity of rational drug use should not be restricted to specific population, and knowledge of safe drug use is supposed to be actively popularized. Contents of rational drug use are as follows: Guide the public to correctly understand the functions of vitamins and dietary supplements strengthen publicity of rational use of drugs such as antibiotics, antibacterial drugs, drugs for chronic diseases, cold and cough, etc. Focus should be given on usage and dosage of drugs, use of antibacterial drugs, and repeated and excessive use of drugs caused by joint use of drugs with same ingredients of OTC drugs for treatment of common cold and cough.