ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS' OPINIONS ON PRESCRIBED MEDICINES: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED PILOT STUDY IN BULGARIA

Evaluation of rational drug utilization (RDU) through WHO indicators is used to provide information about the level of development of national policy and to identify the necessity of further regulatory, patient- or healthcare professional-centered measures. The current study aimed to investigate the patients' perspective about drug utilization by implementing the WHO's "follow-up" indicators in Bulgaria. A prospective, cross-sectional, online inquiry study was conducted among the Bulgarian population. The population above 18 years of age in Bulgaria is 5.8 million people and a 400-people sample was considered sufficient with 95% CI. The study methodology was based on a modified version of the WHO "follow-up" indicators. The total number of answers was 467. The majority of patients aged over 56 years responded that they did not receive enough information about the side effects and interactions of the prescribed medicines and they used the leaflet as a source of information the most often. Most of the patients responded they always check the expiry date (61%), while 23% of patients check it sometimes. In the group of patients over 65 years, 24% responded that they never check the expiry date. The results of our study suggest that rational medicine utilization is a broader concept depending on patients' knowledge and the pharmacist and patient relation. It suggests that there is a need to educate both parties, mainly to increase health literacy and promote general aspects of rational drug utilization.