Knowledge attitudes and practices of patients and their attendants visiting a family physicians clinic [letter]

Dear Madam A study was conducted to assess the knowledge attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients and their attendants visiting the clinic of a family physician regarding types and source of medical treatment desire for immediate response to therapy use of oral fluids and immunization status of children under 5 years of age. A questionnaire was designed and after pretesting 270 questionnaires were filled in by the author by interviewing 1st 3 adult patients and 1st 2 attendants of children under 5 years of age suffering from diarrhea visiting the clinic on each working day from 15/4/91 to 16/6/91. Of 270 subjects interviewed 43% were males and 57% females with a literacy rate of 24% and 6% respectively. The monthly income of each family ranged from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 in 86% cases indicating that majority of the population interviewed belonged to the lower socioeconomic group. Of 270 99% preferred allopathic treatment 1% unani and none homeopathic or spiritual treatment. When 1st seen 53% cases had already taken some form of the treatment 27% took medicines from a quack 15% from a qualified doctor 3% underwent spiritual treatment and none took treatment from a hakim or homeopath. When enquired about their attitude 55% responded that they would go to the same physician 31% changed their doctor and 14% preferred to wait and watch response to treatment. If there was no response after 2 days of treatment 25% went to the same physician 31% changed their doctor and 10% preferred to wait and watch the response. In case of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age 52% were given ORS 19% tap water 17% homemade solutions and 6% each received either boiled water or glucose dissolved in water. 43% parents had no idea about the efficacy of ORS 41% thought that it improves while 16% thought it worsens diarrhea. When enquired about the immunization of these children 82% were fully immunized for their age 10% were partially and 7% not immunized at all. Only 60% parents knew that immunization protects 32% had no idea about its importance and 2% had wrong concepts about immunization of the various preventable diseases covered by immunization; only 52% parents could recall 2 or more such diseases. Similar studies should be conducted at different clinics to obtain significant results regarding knowledge attitude and practices of patients and health education programs be imparted to improve health standard in our population. (full text)