Bridging the Gap: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Professionals on NSAID Safety in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Maharashtra, India

Aim and Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals (HCPs) concerning Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Safety in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra, India.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study, conducted among 200 healthcare professionals (HCPs) at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. The data for this study was collected using a self-designed, pre-validated questionnaire, which evaluated KAP on NSAID safety, including prescribing patterns, risk awareness and mitigation strategies. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Results: Most participants (92%) correctly identified COX enzyme inhibition as the primary mechanism of NSAIDs. However, gaps were observed in risk awareness (e.g., only 60% recognized ketorolac as having the highest gastrointestinal toxicity). While 88% expressed concern about gastrointestinal side effects, only 80% routinely co-prescribed gastroprotective agents in high-risk patients. Over-the-counter availability (85%) and patient non-compliance (72%) were cited as major challenges.

Conclusion: This study highlights that despite having adequate foundational knowledge, certains gaps persist in risk awareness and mitigation practices of healthcare professionals. Educational interventions and stricter prescribing guidelines are needed to improve safety of NSAID use.