An observational study on Awareness of Teratogenic drugs among Undergraduate Medical Students from two medical institutes of Central India

Abstract

Background: Teratogenicity caused by drugs can be avoided to major extent just by creating more awareness about rational use of drugs among treating doctors. Deleterious effects of a drug upon developing foetus are directly related with the stage of embryological development at the time of exposure. Attainment of right knowledge at right time about teratogenicity of a particular drug is very crucial which requires more awareness among general doctors in a country like India where most of the pregnant females are manged by these doctors only in peripheral regions. Present study was an observational study to assess basic knowledge of undergraduate medical students regarding teratogenicity in order to make necessary changes in existing mode of training of this particular topic.Methods: Present study was a questionnaire based cross sectional observational study to assess basic knowledge of undergraduate medical students regarding different aspects of teratogenicity. It included 250 students of two medical colleges of central India.Results: Out of 250 students 146 students reported on time. Maximum students (71%) were aware about the teratogenicity property of certain harmful drugs. Although 90% of students knew that early first trimester is the most susceptible time, only 21% could state the importance of doing counselling regarding use of drugs even before pregnancy.Conclusions: Based on the findings of present study it is obvious that more emphasis should be put on improving knowledge about teratogenic drugs during early years of medical training in order to bring about necessary changes in existing practices of treating doctors.