EVALUATION OF RISKFACTORS, PRESCRIBING PATTERN AND EFFECT OF PATIENT COUNSELLING ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING ANTIBIOTICS USE IN PATIENTS WITH COPD EXACERBATION

Nashida A.*, Ajith A., Smrithi Muraleedharan and Soumya R.V.

ABSTRACT

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation is one of the leading cause for morbidity and mortality.The objective of our study is to evaluate the riskfactors, prescribing patterns and effect of patient counselling on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding antibiotics use in COPD exacerbation patients.T his was a hospital based prospective observational study. About 113 patients diagnosed with COPD exacerbation were included in the study. All information relevant to study were collected in suitably designed proforma from case records and discussions conducted with the inpatients and bystanders during ward rounds, with the support of a physician. From this patient’s drug prescribing pattern and common riskfactors for COPD exacerbation were noted and plotted statistically. A suitably designed KAP questionnaire was administered on all the enrolled patients to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the patients towards antibiotics use and proper counselling were given to patients and the score were statistically assessed before and after patient counselling. The riskfactors contributed to exacerbation of COPD are usually age, gender, smoking, education, duration of COPD, disease severity, comorbidities, compliance with treatment etc. From our study we identified a positive correlation between some of riskfactors and number of exacerbation in COPD. By evaluating the prescription pattern we found that antibiotics were prescribed for all COPD exacerbation patients and multiple drug therapy is preferred. Majority of drugs prescribed were in concordance with GOLD guidelines. Impact of patient counselling on knowledge, Attitude and practice towards antibiotics use provided a satisfactory result. The results showed a significant improvement after counselling.

Keywords: COPD, riskfactors, prescribing pattern, antibiotics, GOLD guidelines.