Publication:

Uptake of medication use counseling among the patients receiving antibiotics from selected hospital pharmacies in Kiambu County, Kenya

Background Medication use counselling (MUC) is a critical component of patient care, particularly regarding antibiotic use. Despite its importance, studies indicate that over 50% of antibiotics are inappropriately consumed globally, largely due to inadequate counselling. The study aimed to determine the uptake of MUC among patients receiving antibiotics in selected hospital pharmacies in Kiambu County.

Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires to gather data from 423 patients and key informant interviews among 12 pharmacy personnel across three hospitals. Statistical analysis was undertaken using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results The findings revealed that MUC uptake varied significantly across facilities, with Kikuyu Hospital reporting the highest rate at 64%. Patients demonstrated high awareness of medication names (93.4%) and administration routes (95.5%), but knowledge regarding dosage strength (45.6%) and protocols for missed doses (37.8%) was notably low.

Conclusions The overall uptake rate for MUC was found to be 64%, indicating a need for improvement in counselling practices.