Evaluating Knowledge Attitudes and Practices Regarding High-Alert Medications among Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Care Setting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31632/g3cj2396Keywords:
Healthcare Professionals, High-Alert Medication, Medication Safety, Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP)Abstract
High-Alert Medications (HAMs) pose a high risk of patient harm if used improperly. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of 143 healthcare professionals regarding HAMs at a tertiary care hospital in Palakkad, Kerala. Using a validated bilingual questionnaire, responses from nurses, pharmacists, doctors, and allied staff were analysed. Most participants (79%) were nurses. While positive attitudes (mean: 21.6 ± 2.86) and good practices (mean: 6.4 ± 2.87) were observed, knowledge levels were moderate (mean: 3.2 ± 0.61), with 70% categorized as having low knowledge. Profession showed a marginal association with knowledge (χ² = 13.78, p = 0.055), but neither attitude nor practice significantly predicted knowledge in logistic regression analysis. Despite favourable attitudes and self-reported practices, limited knowledge, especially among nurses, highlights a critical gap. The findings emphasize the need for profession-specific education to enhance awareness and ensure the safe handling of HAMs.
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