Medication Literacy Among Patients Attending The Focos Orthopaedic Hospital, Pantang, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Medication literacy is the degree to which individuals can acquire, understand,

disclose, calculate and process information that is specific to their medication to make informed

medication and health related decisions in order to use their medications cautiously and

adequately. A low level of medication literacy puts the patient at risk of complications such as

medication errors which leads to morbidity and mortality. Medication literacy influences patients

adherence to their medications, patients who understand why, how and when to take their

medications are more likely to take their medications as ordered by their physician. Medication

literacy ensures medication safety.

Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess the level of medication literacy among

patients.

Method: A quantitative cross sectional study was undertaken with 190 patients who visited the

OPD at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital. A questionnaire was used to collect data to assess patients’

level of medication literacy. Descriptive statistics was used to ascertain the sociodemographic

characteristics of the patients. Chi square test was employed to determine associations between

sociodemographic factors and medication literacy.

Results: Thirty six of the participants (19%) had a low level of medication literacy whereas 105

(55%) and 49 (26%) had medium and high levels of medication literacy respectively. Fifty one

(26.8%) of the participants had a little knowledge on the side effects of their medications, a

higher percentage however did not know what to do when they experienced side effects from

their medications (41.1%) and the drugs or substances that interact with their medications

(50.5%). This study found significant associations between education (p=0.001), income levels

(p=0.000), employment status (p=0.000) and medication literacy.

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Conclusion: This study has shown that almost 1/5th of the patients attending FOCOS

Orthopaedic Hospital had a low level of medication literacy. A higher percentage of patients did

not know the side effects of their medications, what to do when they occurred and the drug–drug

interaction. Education, income level and employment status significantly influenced medication

literacy.