Aims: The effectiveness of drug therapy is largely influenced by noncompliance, which is believed to be affected by attitude toward drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes toward drugs from an epidemiological perspective in Palestine
Methodology: A cross-sectional study, based on questionnaire survey randomly distributed to individuals in Palestine in the period starting November 2004 to January 2005. Data collected were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Program (SPSS) version 11 for windows.
Results: Out of 573 respondents, 79.9% considered drugs as positive, a help; 15.4% viewed medication as necessary, evil; 4.7% considered medication as negative danger. “Self-Care” oriented people viewed medications more positive than others. Differences in attitude were observed among users of different types of drugs; those using antihypertensive or asthmatic, psychotropic drugs viewed medication more negatively than others. Patient’s medication knowledge greatly affects attitude toward drugs and thus patient’s compliance and drug effectiveness.
Discussion and Conclusion: The majority of the study sample viewed medication as something positive, a help. Both written and oral information given to patients about illness and drug use greatly influence the attitude toward drugs and patient compliance. Certain population such as the elderly, patients using antihypertensive, psychotropic and asthmatic drugs needs special concern. Clinical pharmacists are the appropriate specialists to provide drug education to patients.

Title

The Islamic University Journal (Series of Natural Studies and Engineering) Vol.14, No.2, P.21-30, 2006, ISSN 1726-6807

Publisher

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Publisher Country

Palestine

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

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Year

2006

Pages

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