Consumer Awareness, Attitude, and Behavior Related to the Rational Use of Medicines in a Developing Country Context: The Case of Turkey

Dilaver  Tengilimoğlu; Perihan Şenel Tekin; Aysu Zekioğlu; Turkan Dursun Kılıç

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.3912

Authors

Dilaver Tengilimoğlu Department of Management, Faculty of Management, Atilim University, Ankara, Turkey
Perihan Şenel Tekin Vocational School of Health Services, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Aysu Zekioğlu Department of Healthcare Management, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
Turkan Dursun Kılıç Department of Management, West Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.3912

Keywords:

Customer behavior, Electronic prescription, Medicine utilization, Side effect, Prescription

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The high cost of medicines continues to be a major problem in health care.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the awareness, attitudes, and behaviors of consumers with regard to the rational use of medicine (RUM) in a developing country context.

METHODS: The study was designed as descriptive cross-sectional research. The survey was conducted in the two major cities of Turkey, namely, Ankara and Edirne, whose populations well-represent the socio-economic characteristics of the overall Turkish population between January and March 2016. A total of 2267 individuals participated in the survey. The survey consisted of 37 questions which included statements about various socio-demographic factors and the RUM. Frequencies and percentages were used for the presentation of qualitative data while cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests were utilized for the investigation of the relationships among research variables.

RESULTS: According to the findings, 54.7% of participants stated that they request medicine not related to their illness be added to the prescription; only 24.7% of them have heard the term “rational use of medicine.” The distribution of the responses related to handling unused medicines was significant for educational level (p = 0.010; α = 0.05). At the same time, high school and university graduates are also more likely to take medicines in accordance with doctor’s advice compare to the other groups.

CONCLUSION: Our study results indicate that consumer awareness of the RUMs is at a low level and more effective consumer awareness campaigns are needed on this issue.

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