Assessing the impact of the 'Know Your Medicine programme on medication literacy among children aged 10-12 years in Selangor, Malaysia: A pre- and post-survey intervention study

• Published in: PHARMACY EDUCATION
• Main Authors: Zulkifli, Nur Wahida; Hamdan, Nor Elyzatul Akma; Hussin, Nur Sabiha Md; Ibrahim, Norkasihan; Karuppannan, Mahmathi; Saman, Kamaliah Md
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL FEDERATION 2024
• Subjects: Education & Educational Research
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001402540500006
• ISSN: 1560-2214; 1477-2701
• DOI: 10.46542/pe.2024.241.757764

Background: Despite efforts to educate the public about medication starting from an early age, there remains a scarcity of medication-related programs and accessible resources specifically designed for children. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the 'Know Your Medicine' programme in enhancing medication literacy among primary schoolchildren in Malaysia. Methods: This interventional study compared pre- and post- knowledge scores in a non-randomised, one-group pre-test-post-test experimental design. Primary schoolchildren aged 10-12 years old participating in the 'Know Your Medicine' programme engaged in informative sessions and interactive activities. Eleven validated questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention to measure changes in medication knowledge levels. Results: A total of 81 primary schoolchildren completed the study. The mean baseline knowledge score was 6.88 and 7.85 pre-test and post-test, respectively. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed a statistically significant improvement in medication knowledge following the intervention (Z = -4.345, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings reveal the effectiveness of the 'Know Your Medicine' programme in enhancing medication literacy among primary schoolchildren in Malaysia, highlighting the importance of implementing targeted educational interventions to improve medication knowledge among primary schoolchildren.