A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING (TDM) AMONG 2 ND , 3 RD AND FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS OF GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE, ANANTHAPURAMU. AP. INDIA

AIM: To assess the knowledge and awareness of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) among 2nd, 3rd and final year medical students. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and the knowledge gap and awareness of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) among 2 nd , 3rd and final year medical students of Govt. Medical College, Ananthapuramu to conclude regarding importance of Therapeutic drug monitoring in the curriculum of second M.B.B.S. In our study Third year students were considered as final year. It was a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Based Study where 300 M.B.B.S medical students were surveyed with a questionnaire Proforma after taking an informed consent. 75% of second M.B.B.S students had good level of knowledge about what happens to a drug in the body. 54% of second M.B.B.S students had good knowledge regarding the need to monitor therapeutic level of a drug. Only 2% of second M.B.B.S Students given correct answers about the investigation of TDM. No second M.B.B.S student had the knowledge of instrument used for TDM. 65% of second M.B.B.S. students and 76% of Final M.B.B.S thought that TDM is a new term to them in Pharmacology and affirmed the need for incorporation of TDM in second M.B.B.S curriculum. The present study shows that there is a substantial gap of knowledge about Therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM) in second M.B.B.S students and M.B.B.S final year ,so there is a need of incorporation of Therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM) in second M.B.B.S curriculum.