title: Assessment of impact of medication counseling on patients' medication knowledge and compliance in an outpatient clinic in South India.
abstract: The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of patient medication counseling by comparing the levels of patient's medication knowledge and adherence achieved by medication counseling in an outpatient clinic. Ninety patients were randomized in the ratio of 1:2 into either counseled or usual care group. Their medication knowledge was assessed by a questionnaire and adherence was assessed by pill count method and self-assessment by the patients. Their medication knowledge was assessed at baseline and during their subsequent appointments. The average medication knowledge score of the counseled group versus usual care group was 13.82+/-1.8064 and 11.78+/-3.5037. Compliance score of the patients during their follow-up period was 92.29+/-4.5 and 84.71+/-11.80 for the counseled and control group, respectively. Statistical analysis of medication knowledge was carried out and all the demographic characters and number of medication were individually correlated with medication knowledge score and the difference observed was statistically significant. Compliance score of the patients was 92.29+/-4.5 and 84.71+/-11.8 % for the counseled and usual care group, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Center for Patient Counseling and Education, Department of Pharmacy Practice, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamilnadu, India. ponnusankarsivas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sivasankaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponnusankar
authors.forename: Mallayasamy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surulivelrajan
authors.forename: Nunjundiah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anandamoorthy
authors.forename: Bhojraj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suresh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires