An Investigation of Drug Information Needs of Nigerian Pharmacists
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An Investigation of Drug Information Needs of Nigerian Pharmacists
Waka A. Udezi, MPharm, Lecturer Azuka C. Oparah, MPharm, MBA, PhD, Lecturer Kenneth U. Enyi, BPharm, Intern Pharmacist Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
Key Words Drug information; Pharmacists; Practice problems; Sources; Nigeria Correspondence Address Waka A. Udezi, MPharm, Lecturer, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, 300001, Benin City, Edo, Nigeria (e-mail: [email protected]).
Provision of appropriate drug information improves patient outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate the drug information needs of Nigerian pharmacists in Enugu. A questionnaire consisting of 24 practice problems requiring pharmacists to search for drug information was developed and administered. Patient counseling (3.58 ± 1.35) and adverse drug events (3.40 ± 1.28) were among the most common practice problems requiring pharmacists to search for drug information. The most-used sources of drug information were In-
INTRODUCTION The pharmacist has the knowledge, understanding, judgment, procedures, skill, controls, and ethics that ensure optimal safety in the distribution and use of medication (1). However, the environment in which the Nigerian pharmacist operates is very different from that of developed countries. Pharmacy practice in Nigeria is largely product focused, although it contains fragments of clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care. There is not yet an official statement or policy on pharmaceutical care philosophy. Hospital pharmacy practice is focused on drug distribution and inventory management. This sector attracts few pharmacists because of lack of job satisfaction, poor image, and poor remuneration. Community pharmacy practice is facing numerous challenges, the most important of which is low returns on investment because of low aggregate consumer demand (2). Numerous open drug markets and patent and proprietary medicine shops, often operated by poorly educated individuals, in which all classes of drugs are sold are common in Nigeria. There is a high incidence of self-medication with both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. Private hospitals and clinics prescribe and dispense medicines without the expertise of the
dex of Essential Medicines (Emdex; 4.97 ± 1.67), British National Formulary (4.91 ± 1.72), and textbooks (4.40 ± 1.87). An association exists between the extent of use of Emdex and work experience (P = .011). Practice setting of pharmacists was significantly associated with the degree of use of the British National Formulary (P = .003) and textbooks (P = .046). Therapy-specific information constitutes the drug information needs of the respondents. Textbooks and pocket reference books were the most-used sources of drug information.
pharmacist. Patients are only referred to pharmacies to purchase expensive drugs. The community pharmacists recommend both ethical an
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