ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF HANDLING HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS

Abstract

Objective: High alert medications (HAM) are medications commonly used in health care settings that are associated with significant harm when used in error. Improvement in the knowledge and practice of pharmacists is crucial to prevent and solve medication errors associated with HAM. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of pharmacy students about HAM. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacy students (3rd, 4th and 5th-year students) through an online survey in Ankara, Türkiye between 1 May 2021 and 31 October 2021. A Turkish translated and validated version of the High Alert Medications Knowledge Questionnaire was used. Only a correct answer was given score of 1 among the knowledge questions. The common resources for HAM use in the practice were assessed. Result and Discussion: Among 124 students, 80.6% were female. The mean age (standard derivation ± SD) of the students was 23.3 ± 1.37 years. The percentages of the 3rd, 4th and 5th-year students were 51.6%, 16.1% and 32.3%, respectively. The mean ± SD score of the students was 6.8 ± 3.28 out of 20. The 5th-year students (8.00 ± 2.90) were more likely to get higher scores compared to 3rd-years (5.89 ± 3.15) (p = 0.003). RxMediaPharma® (local online drug information database) was the most (75.0%) commonly used resource by pharmacy students. The pharmacy students’ knowledge about HAM was poor. Educational interventions are necessary early in the clinical pharmacy curriculum to improve pharmacy students' knowledge and preparedness to handle HAM.

Keywords

• High alert medication
• clinical pharmacy education
• knowledge
• questionnaire

ECZACILIK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN YÜKSEK RİSKLİ İLAÇLARIN KULLANIMI HAKKINDA BİLGİSİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Abstract

Amaç: Yüksek riskli ilaçlar (HAM), sağlık hizmeti sunulan ortamlarında yaygın olarak kullanılan ve yanlışlıkla kullanıldığında önemli zararlarla ilişkilendirilen ilaçlardır. Eczacıların bilgi ve uygulamalarındaki gelişme, HAM ile ilişkili ilaç hatalarını önlemek ve çözmek için çok önemlidir. Bu çalışma, eczacılık öğrencilerinin HAM hakkındaki bilgilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Eczacılık öğrencileri (3., 4. ve 5. sınıf öğrencileri) arasında çevrimiçi anket yoluyla kesitsel bir çalışma Ankara, Türkiye’de yapılmıştır. Türkçe validasyonu yapılan Yüksek Riskli İlaçlar Hakkında Bilgi Anketi kullanılmıştır. Bilgi sorularından sadece doğru cevaba 1 puan verildi. Uygulamaları sırasında HAM kullanımı için kullandıkları yaygın kaynaklar değerlendirildi. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Ankete katılan 124 öğrencinin %80.6’sı kızdır. Öğrencilerin yaş ortalaması [standart sapma (SSD)] 23.3 ± 1.37 olarak bulunumuştur. Eczacılık 3., 4. ve 5. sınıf öğrencilerinin oranı sırasıyla %51.6, %16.1 ve %32.3’tür. Öğrencilerin ortalama ± SD puanı 20 üzerinden 6.8 ± 3.28’dir. 5. sınıf öğrencilerinin (8.00 ± 2.90) 3. sınıf öğrencilerine göre (5.89 ± 3.15) daha yüksek puan alma olasılığı daha fazla bulunumuştur (p = 0.003). RxMediaPharma® (yerel çevrimiçi ilaç bilgi veritabanı), eczacılık öğrencileri tarafından en çok (%75,0) kullanılan kaynaktı. Eczacılık öğrencilerinin HAM hakkındaki bilgileri yeterli bulunamamıştır. Eczacılık öğrencilerinin HAM’ı yönetme konusundaki bilgilerini ve hazırlıklarını geliştirmek için klinik eczacılık müfredatının başlarında eğitimsel müdahaleler gereklidir.

Keywords

• Anket
• bilgi
• klinik eczacılık eğitimi
• yüksek riskli ilaçlar

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