Knowledge and Rational Drug Use of the Community of Ban Nongyang in Tambon Hua Ruea, Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

Introduction: WHO defines the rational drug use as ‘Using drugs according to the patient's health problem. An appropriate dose is used for individual patients in an appropriate time.' The communities at local and international levels inappropriately spend more than 50% on drugs. An estimated 35 million people worldwide have suffered thanks to unnecessary drugs. Only one in seven was given appropriate treatment. The consequence was a side effect, drug-related dangers and unnecessary economic loss. Objective: • Aim to study drug knowledge and understanding correctly and safely. • Aim to assess the practice of using self-medication reasonably • Aim to compare between knowledge and understanding about medicine and the practice of using self-justifying medicine. Material & Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 292 respondents from the communities of Tambon Hua Ruea in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. It was concerned with the subjects' knowledge and behavior in using drugs. Results: It was found that the respondents were females (59.2%), aged 61 -70 years (22.95%), and completed the primary education (60.96%). They had knowledge and could complete the questionnaire (68.25%). Their drug-using behavior averaged 2.70%. With knowledge in using drugs and the subjects' behavior in using drugs studied, it was found that age, educational levels, treatment rights and personal disease were statistically different at p