Assessment of Antibiotics Used in Respiratory Tract Infections by Improving Medication Adherence and Quality of Life in General Medicine Department

Abstract

Medical adherence is defined as the extent to which a patient's taking of medication is consistent with medical or health advice. Non-adherence to medications is particularly important in clinical practice. Adherence to medications has long been a concern because it often affects the outcome of treatment. The need of present study is to classify different types of Respiratory tract infections and antibiotics used to treat such infections. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of different classes of antibiotics in treatment of RTI, to promote medication adherence/ compliance and to improve quality of life by providing patient counselling. This is a prospective observational study conducted among 100 patients with respiratory tract infections in department of general medicine ward of a tertiary care hospital, over a period of 6 months. The materials used were Patient Information Leaflets (PILs), patient’s profile form, Morisky medication scale and SF 36 questionnaire. The obtained data was analysed statistically. Almost all the patients were prescribed with antibiotics. It was found that Beta-lactams were the most prescribed for respiratory tract infections. At the end of the study, 1(1%) of population were very poorly adherent, 3(3%) were poorly adherent 46 (46%) were slightly adherent and 50(50%) of population were completely adherent to the medications prescribed. On comparing, QOL on day 1 and day 5, the day 5 parameters showed an increase in mean value when compared to mean value of day 1. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for respiratory tract infections were cephalosporin, macrolides, penicillins and quinolones. The participants of the study were found to be mostly compliant to their therapy. The quality of life of the subjects improved mostly due to adequate patient counselling, reminders and regular follow ups.