OBJECTIVES: Irrational use of drugs is a serious problem in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the practice of drug use of outpatients and their perception of medication counseling activities in a Vietnamese hospital.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with a 20-item questionnaire with outpatients was conducted at the Hue University Hospital in 2017.

RESULTS: A total of 385 patients were interviewed. A half of patients missed drugs at least one time (of them, 67.14% quicked that dose and then took the next dose as usually, and 32.86% took it when remembered). And 6.23% of patients splitted pills without recommendation, 6.75% took drugs with fluids other than water (tea, milk ...). When suffering from uncommon signs, 50.42% of patients continued taking drugs, 32.21% stopped and counsel with physicians and 4.34% stopped taking drugs until those symptoms were resolved. About 30.00% of patients discountinued treatment by themselves because of relieved symptoms (65.21%) or inefffective treatment (11.30%). About 78.86% of patients were consulted about drug use by health care providers (78.73% by physicians, 21.27% by pharmacists) and 76.64% of them were not satisfied with their counseling.

CONCLUSIONS: Drug use of outpatients were varied. Most patients were not satisfied with drug counseling by health care providers. Lack of patient counseling of drug use may be one of reasons of inappropriate practices of drug use.