Assessment of Caregivers’ Knowledge about Medications and Medical Conditions by Time of Discharge in the Paediatric Department at University Teaching Hospital of Zambia

Abstract

Background: Discharge is a period of transition from hospital to home that transfer responsibilities from the inpatient health care providers to patients and primary Caregivers. The study assessed Caregivers’ Knowledge about medications and medical conditions by the time their paediatric patients are discharged. Methods: A Cross-Sectional Study was carried out at University Teaching Hospital, paediatric department in Lusaka city of Zambia. 369 Caregivers were assessed on level of knowledge about medical conditions and medications of their discharged paediatric patients using data collected by a Pre-Tested Interview administered questionnaire. A knowledge index was developed representing the number of correct answers. Chi-square test analysis was used to indicate the significance of the results. Results: Most Caregivers were married (78.8%),Parents (82.2%), Unemployed(57.7%) with Primary level of Education (45.5%).The study found that 35.5% were very knowledgeable,27.6% had average knowledge and 36.9 % were not knowledgeable about Medical conditions. 16.5% were very knowledgeable,35.5% were average knowledgeable and 48.5 were not knowledgeable about Medications. The overall knowledge about Medical condition and Medications was poor with only 11.9% very knowledgeable,35.5% average knowledgeable and 52.6% not knowledgeable. Study of Pearson Chi-square reviewed that there is a statistically significant association between Age(P=0.000), Gender(P=0.023), Duration of Hospital stay(0.000),of Education (0.000), Occupation (0.000) and Relationship of Caregiver (0.002) to Level of knowledge. Discussion: Generally, Caregivers were not knowledgeable about the medical conditions and medications of their paediatric patients. However, the study findings indicated that Caregivers were more knowledgeable about medical conditions than medications. Female parent Caregivers are more likely to be knowledgeable than male Caregivers. Similarly, those who stay longer in Hospital, with a high level of Education, and Health workers are likely to be knowledgeable.