Lavanya S, Jeevana Jyothi B, Lochana G, Minu Kurian, Surya Renjan, Sruthi P Jose, Krishna Kumar D
Objective: The study is focused to assess the impact of clinical pharmacist’s education on knowledge of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) among pregnant women.
Methodology: A prospective study was carried out in the outpatient department of Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBG) of a tertiary care hospital. A patient documentation and knowledge based questionnaire was designed by the clinical pharmacist and assessed during their baseline to assess their knowledge about PIH and again same questionnaire was given to assess their improvement in knowledge at final visit. The patient education was also provided on lifestyle modification, medication adherence and to monitor their reduction in blood pressure (BP) according to Joint National Commission VIII (JNC) guidelines.
Results and Conclusion: A total of 370 pregnant women came to the outpatient department of OBG, among them 36 patients were identified with PIH. In baseline 27.8% of patients have knowledge about PIH and in the final visit 94.4%, significant improvement in knowledge was observed. In baseline, systolic BP (mean ± SD) was found to be 148.9 ± 12.8 mm Hg and diastolic BP (mean ± SD) was found to be 90.6 ± 5.8 mm Hg. In the final visit the systolic BP (mean ± SD) was found to be 132.5± 9.7 mm Hg and diastolic BP (mean ± SD) was found to be 83.9 ± 4.9 mm Hg. The PIH patients who had received clinical pharmacist education on knowledge, lifestyle modification, and medication adherence showed a better improvement in their knowledge and reduction in BP.
