Educating Patients on Psychopharmacological Medications in Pakistan
Author Information
Author(s): Ganatra Hammad Ashraf, Bhurgri Hadi, Channa Roomasa, Bawany Fauzia Ahmad, Zafar Syed Nabeel, Chaudhry Rafia Ishfaq, Batool Syeda Hina, Basit Abdul, Asghar Mehmood, Saleem Sarah, Naqvi Haider
Primary Institution: The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Hypothesis
Are family physicians in Pakistan providing adequate education to patients prescribed psychopharmacological medications?
Conclusion
Family physicians in Pakistan are not adequately educating patients about their psychiatric diagnoses and treatment options.
Supporting Evidence
- 20.6% of patients were prescribed psychopharmacological medications.
- 50.7% of patients did not know their diagnosis.
- 68.5% were unaware of the disease process.
- 71.2% were not informed about alternative treatments.
- 86.3% were not cautioned about potential adverse effects.
- 82.2% did not have an appropriate referral discussed.
Takeaway
Doctors in Pakistan need to do a better job of explaining to patients what their mental health medications are for and how to use them.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was conducted with structured interviews of patients at a community health center.
Potential Biases
Interviewer bias may have been introduced due to multiple interviewers.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to generalize findings, and potential information bias may have affected results.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 354 adults, with a mean age of 38.8 years, predominantly female (65%), and many were illiterate or had only primary education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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