Nithya. R
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Tamilnadu.
M.S. Reema
Pharm .D Intern, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Tamilnadu.
Sneha Anna Kunjumon
Pharm .D Intern, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Tamilnadu.
Abstract
Introduction: Cervical radiculopathy, often resulting from herniated discs or arthritic bone spurs, leads to nerve compression and manifests as sensory deficits, motor dysfunction, and neck and upper extremity pain. Several risk factors, including overuse injuries, poor exercise posture, degenerative disc disease, osteophyte growth, and vehicular accidents, contribute to its development. Electrodiagnostic testing serves as a reliable diagnostic benchmark. Although conservative treatments like exercise, manual therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended, there is a dearth of high-quality trial evidence. This study aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with an information leaflet as part of cervical radiculopathy management.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study at Vivekanandha Medical Care Hospital, enrolling cervical radiculopathy patients from the Neurology department's outpatient pool. An information leaflet was meticulously crafted following extensive research and expert committee approval. The leaflet's quality was assessed using the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) questionnaire, readability was measured with the Flesh Reading Ease (FRE) formula, and usefulness was evaluated using a Patient Information Leaflet Usefulness Assessment Questionnaire (PIL UAQ).
Results: Analysis of the EQIP questionnaire revealed that the leaflet performed well across various criteria, particularly excelling in the provision of easily understood illustrations. Readability assessments indicated that the leaflet was generally easy to read and comprehend. PIL UAQ responses indicated that a significant majority of participants found the information leaflet's content to be sufficient and highly valuable, with favorable ratings for readability and comprehensibility.
Conclusion: Pharmacist-developed information leaflets can significantly enhance patient comprehension of medical conditions and lifestyle adjustments. In the context of cervical radiculopathy, the created leaflets proved to be valuable and accessible resources for patients.
Keywords: Cervical radiculopathy, Non operative care, Patient Information Leaflet, Physical therapy, Life Style Modification.