Correlates of Patients’ Preference for Therapeutic Injections in a Major Regional Referral Hospital in Ghana: Implications for Policy and Clinical Practice

Abstract

Abuse of injections, particularly in poor countries, remains a challenge because of the increasing preference for therapeutic injections over oral medication. This research work sought to find out why health care clients prefer injections to oral medications in a major referral hospital in the Volta Region of Ghana.At the end of the research, it was discovered that two thirds of patients visiting the Volta Regional Hospital (VRH) preferred therapeutic injection to oral medication. Predominant reasons for preference of injection were perceived quicker action, difficulty with oral medication compliance, and addiction to injectable medication. Also, patients who perceived therapeutic injection as more efficacious were more likely to opt for injections over oral medications.Based on these results, the researchers recommend the need to increase public education for clients and health providers to control the indiscriminate use of injections in health care settings toward promoting the safety of patients. AbstractAbuse of injections, particularly in resource poor countries, remains a challenge evident in the increasing preference for therapeutic injections over oral medication. Objective of this study is to explore factors associated with patients' preference for therapeutic injection over oral medication in the Volta Regional Hospital, Ho in Ghana. The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted among 200 patients accessing care in Volta Regional Hospital. Data were analyzed using STATA statistical software for data analysis. Univariate probit regression was used to ascertain factors associated with patients' preference for therapeutic injections over oral medication (main outcome variable of interest). It was found that 74% of the 200 respondents preferred injection to oral medication. More outpatients preferred injectable medication over oral (p = .041); 86% of the respondents said they never experienced complication related to injectable medication. Patients who perceived injection as more efficacious were more likely to opt for it over oral medication (coefficient = 2.22; SE = 0.33; p < .05). It is concluded that patients' preference for injectable medication over oral remains high in Ghana, and this preference is significantly associated with patients' perceptions on superiority of injections over oral medication. There is the need to intensify health education for clients and in-service trainings for health providers to control abuse of therapeutic injections and promote patient safety.

Perceived acceptability of an inhaled oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Ethiopia

“…In contrast, injections were often described as less favoured due to pain and infection-related side effects. While these findings are in contrast to several previous studies highlighting a strong patient preference for injections in the developing world, [36][37][38] studies conducted in Ethiopia have found injections to be the preferred administration format in only 15-42% of studied populations. [39][40][41] Ease of product use and heat-stability were the most significant anticipated advantages of an oxytocin inhaler cited by all stakeholders, who largely expressed a willingness to Perceived acceptability of an inhaled oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Ethiopia Journal of Global Health Reports accept and use this type of product as long it had equivalent efficacy to the injection.…”