Assessment of patient perception and administration technique of vaginal tablets at a tertiary care women's hospital

TL;DR

This study examines how patients in Nepal perceive and use vaginal tablets, finding that while many use them correctly, poor perceptions persist due to factors like education and rural residence.

Contribution

The study identifies demographic and experiential factors influencing patient perception and administration of vaginal tablets in a low-resource setting.

Findings

Over half of patients demonstrated adequate administration techniques, but 76.1% had suboptimal perceptions.

Factors like lower education, rural residence, and lack of prior experience were linked to poorer perceptions.

Younger age and pharmacist counseling improved administration techniques.

Abstract

Vaginal tablets offer an effective and patient-friendly route for both localized and systemic therapies, bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism and minimizing gastrointestinal side effects. However, in low-resource settings like Nepal, their optimal use is often hindered by patient's perception and administration techniques.

This study aimed to assess patient perception and administration technique of vaginal tablets at a tertiary women's hospital in Nepal.

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2024 among 117 women of reproductive age visiting a tertiary care women's hospital in Kathmandu. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a validated 8-item perception questionnaire and an 8-item administration technique checklist. Bivariate analysis using Pearson's chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with patients' perceptions and administration techniques.

More than half (56.4 %) of the patient's demonstrated adequate administration techniques (scores ≥6), yet a striking 76.1 % exhibited suboptimal perceptions towards vaginal tablet use. Factors such as being unmarried, having lower educational attainment (illiterate or school level education), being unemployed or a housemaker, residing in rural areas, and lacking prior experience were significantly associated with poorer perceptions. Notably, younger age, prior use and counseling by pharmacists were positively linked to better administration techniques.

Despite adequate administration practices among most women, suboptimal perceptions persist, influenced by demographic and experiential factors. Tailored, provider-led educational interventions focusing on counseling and user-friendly instructions are essential to enhance patient understanding, comfort, and adherence, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes and empowering women in their reproductive health decisions.