Background Rational Use of Medicines: Refers to the correct, proper and appropriate use of medicines. Rational use requires that patients receive the appropriate drug, in the proper dosage, in certain period of time, and at the lowest cost to them and their community. The irrational use of drugs is a problem, and to manage it the World Health Organization (WHO) convened an international conference in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985 to develop useful guidelines.
Methods: 1000 people interview in which 20 of them were nurses from Bugando Medical Centre, 30 people were patients and 50 people were from Bugarika Street.
Results: When the people were asked on how to take first three doses of ALU, the results showed that 2.6% of the respondents knew how to ALU correctly. While 97.4% of the respondents they did not know the correct way to taking ALU. Knowledge on taking the drug according the to the instruction given it showed that, when the drug is directed to be taken once a day how should it be taken, 77.9% of the participants knew that the drug should be taken after every 24 hours. When asked if the drug is to be taken twice a day, it means the drug should be taken after how long; 74% of the participants replied that the drug should be taken after every 12 hours. When the drug is directed to be taken three times a day; 20.8% of the participants said that the drug should be taken after every 8 hours. When asked if the drug is directed to be taken four times a day, it means the drug should be taken after every how long; 24.7% of the participants replied that the drug should be taken after every 6 hours. Participants were assessed about the safe place to store their drugs; 98.7% of the participants they replied that they keep their drug out of the reach of the children, 93.5% of the participants responded that they, the drugs should be place where is no dust, no water contents and out of the reach of sunlight.
Conclusion: Most of the participants interviewed they were not aware on how to take the dose of ALU and those drugs which are recommended to be taken three time a day and four times day, they did not know the interval of drug taking.