EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ON RESPIRATORY DISEASES AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS OF CHITRADURGA: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the basic knowledge and attitude regarding Respiratory Diseases among Pharmacy students of Chitradurga and to analyze and assess the level of attitude regarding Respiratory Diseases. Methods: This was a Prospective Observational study that was conducted among the Pharmacy students of Chitradurga for six months. Statistical analysis was done using the Descriptive method to obtain the frequency and percentage; one sample and paired sample T-test were applied to determine any significant difference between quantitative variables. Results: A total of 250 participants from Pharmacy College were enrolled in the study. All the subjects were in the range of 16-27 y old with which 129 (51.6%) students were from the 16-21 age group and 121 (48.4%) students were from the 22-27 age group from the total subjects. Out of 250 participants, 159 (63.3%) were females and 91 (36.4%) were males. The study showed a correlation of age with knowledge i.e. Age group 22-27 y was made based on knowledge and attitude, which revealed that females (mean ≈ 9.6) had a better level of knowledge and also better attitude compared to the age group 16-21 y. It also shows that female individuals (9.6) are having higher knowledge and attitude toward respiratory diseases than males (9.05) regarding Respiratory Diseases. Conclusion: The assessment individuals had higher knowledge and awareness of respiratory diseases than males (mean ≈ 9.05). It also revealed that individuals in the age group of 16-21 and 22-27 had different levels of knowledge of the respiratory disease in which 22-27 (mean ≈ 9.7) age group individuals are having high knowledge and awareness of respiratory diseases than 16-21 (mean ≈ 9.2) age group.