Evaluation of the knowledge of Health Care Professionals regarding Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Public Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan

A cross sectional study was performed among 250 health care professionals from Children Hospital, Jinnah hospital and Services Institute of Medical science Lahore, through a self-designed questionnaire to assess the knowledge of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). A total 300 questionnaires were distributed and 250 were returned, giving a response 83%. Out of 300 health care professionals 50 participants do not even know the term TDM. Only 40% participants strongly agreed that TDM is done for all patients. Only 26.8% participants agreed that TDM is carried out for all drugs. Only 63.2% participants agreed that the TDM is very costly process. Only 38.4% strongly agreed that TDM requires extra time of health care professionals and only 36% participants remain neutral to the perception that TDM is requested by patient rather than health care professionals. Limited resources and lack of technical skills are barriers in performing TDM in under-developed country like Pakistan.