Abstract:

This study was conducted at Musoma Regional Hospital outpatients clinics with the title “Assessment patients awareness on the instructions provided on the prescribed medicine” A total number of 384 questionnaires were given to respondents who were selected using a convenient sampling. A total number of 373 questionnaires were returned. The statistical package for social sciences (IBM SPSS 21 version) was used to analyze the data.

The overall level of awareness is 53.9% however significant minority 46.1% lack the general awareness on the name, dose, side effects and routes of administration of the medicine. Common problems raised were analysed by the participants follows.

No adequate information from the health provided 49 patients (13.1%), there are few dispensers which contribute to the tittle time of providing information 51 patients (13.7%), there is no health education to patients 50 patients (13.4%). Health works do not have a polite language 39 patients (10.4%), reported there were no enough professionals like doctors, nurses, dispenses 47 patients (12.6%), the dispensing outlets are not enough 31 patients (8.3%), time for communication between patients and health providers is not enough 33 patients (8.8%) and those who said they don’t know were 73 patients (19.6%).

Conclusion: Majority of participants were not aware of the instructions provided in this case pharmacist, doctors and nurse’s participation in giving out information was very low. As suggested by most of the patients, that there is a need to allocate more dispensers at the dispensing outlet and if possible to add enough dispensing outlets to reduce the cue hence improve patient-dispenser’s contact. Also there should be a good communication and a sense of closeness between patients and dispensers in order to improve awareness. Confidentiality also should be observed during dispensing time.