Analysis of the experience of using tools for assessing the level of pharmaceutical literacy of the population

Abstract

Pharmaceutical literacy of the population is an important aspect that affects the efficiency of the healthcare system, ensures the correct use of medicines and reduces the risks associated with self-medication. Given the rapid development of the pharmaceutical market and the increasing availability of information about medicines, the issue of assessing the level of pharmaceutical literacy is becoming increasingly relevant. The aim of the study was to analyze the world experience in the development and application of methods for assessing the level of pharmaceutical literacy with further measurement of pharmaceutical literacy of the population of Ukraine and determination of its impact on self-medication. The objects of the study are the concept of pharmaceutical literacy and questionnaires developed to determine it. The study was based on scientific publications on the definition of pharmaceutical literacy and approaches to its assessment in different countries, as well as the results of our own sociological study of the search, understanding and use of information about medicines by the population of the country. The sociological study was conducted using a questionnaire developed and distributed through social media. The results were processed using comparative, statistical, graphical and logical analysis. Questionnaires have been developed in different countries to determine the level of awareness of the population about the use of medicines, but all of them are not universal and were developed in accordance with a separate group of respondents and the conditions in which such a survey was conducted. The authors developed a form and conducted a survey of the Ukrainian population on awareness of the use of medicines. It has been determined that it is more difficult for older respondents to find and understand information about medicines than for younger people. It was confirmed that higher education facilitates the process of searching for and understanding information about medicines, and respondents with higher education visit a doctor more often and less often self-medicate with OTC medicines. The results of the study proved that the level of education and age of the respondents are among the factors influencing the ease of finding and understanding information about medicines, which was proved using statistical methods of analysis.