Knowledge Attitude and Perception (KAP) of Patients towards Analgesics Use: A Cross-Sectional Study in Outpatient Pharmacy Settings

Aims: This study aimed to explore and determine patients' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the use of analgesics.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study by using structured, researcher-assisted survey questionnaire with a representative sample of patients in Hospital Selama.

Place and Duration of Study: Regardless of their clinical conditions, 272 patients who visited the outpatient pharmacy in Hospital, Selama, Perak Malaysia, and obtained NSAIDs were interviewed. The patients' knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of NSAID side effects were recorded.

Methodology: To perform this study, structured self-administered questionnaires will be constructed after a comprehensive literature review. A panel of experts comprising of research academicians will discuss, review, and verify the content of the questionnaire, and it will be subjected to revision based on their recommendations. The questionnaire will be written in Malay and English and will be translated into both languages. Pilot research on 20 patients will be done prior to the study to assess the reliability of the validated questionnaire. The results of the pilot research will be used to make final adjustments. Cronbach's alpha test will be used to assess internal consistency, with alpha=0.40 established as the lowest acceptable value for validity.

Results: There was no correlation between patient knowledge, attitudes, or perceptions about the use of analgesics. As a consequence, at Hospital Selama's outpatient pharmacy department, patients' knowledge, attitude, and perceptions about analgesic use were not substantially associated. A more in-depth investigation of the key reason why the majority of patients have commonly prescribed analgesics and often seek extra explanations despite being given adequate information is required.