Evaluation of knowledge and attitude towards counterfeit drugs among the doctors in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Counterfeit drugs represent an enormous public health challenge such as life-threatening issues as well as financial loss on health care providing system. Methods: This was a cross sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among Doctors in Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, for a period of 3 months after Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Written informed consent obtained. 146 Doctors of both the gender were recruited by simple random sampling with an exclusion of 57 due to incomplete questionnaire forms. 13 predesigned and validated questions focused on knowledge (5) and attitude (8) was answered. The response was evaluated for a total score of 18, pertaining to knowledge 10 points and 8 for attitude. Results: Demographic profile of the 146 entrants, showed 84 were male over 62 females. The mean age group was 33.27±9.59 with an average experience of 7.32±9.173. The overall score was 11.25±3.187, which was shared by Knowledge and attitude 5.07±1.995, 6.18±1.943 respectively. Conclusion: Observations of this study enlighten that majority of the doctors are lagging in their knowledge to distinguish between counterfeit drugs from the original. Most of the participants have opined that severe punishment should be given to stop counterfeiting.