J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2016 Jan;20(1):12-23. 10.21896/jksmch.2016.20.1.12.

Medication Utilization during Pregnancy and Development of Educational Materials for Safe Use of Medication

• Jin HK
• Chung JE
• Choi KS
• Rhie S
• Gwak HS
• Lee BK
• Hong JS
• Kim YJ
• Park MH

• KMID: 2449531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2016.20.1.12

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to investigate the safe medication utilization and the education demands during pregnancy and it further reported the development of educational materials for pregnant women.
METHODS
A survey was conducted in two tertiary care university hospitals and one community hospital specialized in obstetrics and gynecology from July 2 to 29 2014. The survey questionnaires included the usage of medications and the unmet needs on medication use during pregnancy. Ad ditionally, pregnant women's requests regarding to medication use were collected through group interviewing of community pharmacists. Based on these results, educational materials were de veloped and implemented. After implementing the education sessions, the satisfaction was evaluated.
RESULTS
A total of 152 pregnant women answered completely the questionnaire. Among them, 130 participants (42.8%) were given the medication information from their physicians. Exposure to a teratogenic drug during pregnancy was a major concern for most pregnant women (79.6%). The majority (90.1%) of subjects reported a necessity of medication-related education during their pregnancy. The interview with 48 pharmacists indicated that the most commonly used OTC drugs in pregnancy were vitamins (25.2%), iron supplements (23.7%), and the most frequently used prescription drugs were antiinflammatory-analgesics (25.3%), followed by antibiotics (20.9 %). Based on the results, booklets of drug therapy during pregnancy, leaflet of pregnancy category index were made. Also, on-line flash and presentation materials for instructors were prepared. Through the trial education with the developed materials, it was confirmed that the contents of education materials were well understood and satisfied by the pregnant women.
CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the need of the medication-related education for the pregnant women. The developed education materials would be helpful sources to provide accurate and reliable medication-related information to health professionals and pregnant women.

Keyword

pregnancy; prenatal counseling; safe drug use; educational materials

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Drug Therapy
Education
Female
Gynecology
Health Occupations
Hospitals, Community
Hospitals, University
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Iron
Nonprescription Drugs
Obstetrics
Pamphlets
Pharmacists
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Prescription Drugs
Tertiary Healthcare
Vitamins
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Iron
Nonprescription Drugs
Prescription Drugs
Vitamins