Education on Dosage Forms and Rational Use Of Market-Available Drugs for Children at Ar-Rahman Orphanage

Edukasi Bentuk Sediaan dan Penggunaan Obat Rasional yang Beredar Di Pasaran Bagi Anak-Anak di Rumah Yatim Ar-Rahman

Abstract

Rational drug use is one of the important pillars in efforts to maintain and improve public health. In reality, many members of the community, especially children and adolescents, still do not fully understand the various dosage forms of medicines circulating in the market and how to use them properly. Errors in recognizing dosage forms can lead to medication errors, which in turn may reduce therapeutic effectiveness and even cause unwanted side effects. Rumah Yatim Ar-Rahman is one of the social institutions that houses orphans and underprivileged children who require education on the proper use of medicines. This community service activity aimed to introduce various dosage forms of medicines available in the market, explain the function of each dosage form, and provide education on the correct way of using medicines to the residents of Rumah Yatim Ar-Rahman. The methods used included a preparation stage, an implementation stage in the form of lectures, demonstrations, question-and-answer sessions, and discussions, as well as an evaluation stage using pre-test and post-test. The results showed an increase in participants' knowledge regarding drug classification, dosage forms, and the correct methods of drug use and storage, as reflected in the increased average post-test score compared to the pre-test. Participants also showed high enthusiasm throughout the activity. This activity is expected to support the realization of the Smart Community Movement in Using Medicines (Gerakan Masyarakat Cerdas Menggunakan Obat/GeMa CerMat) and improve the independence of the residents of Rumah Yatim Ar-Rahman in using medicines safely, appropriately, and rationally.