Menu
  • Join
  • Login
  • Contact
 

Search abstracts / presentations


Management of drug therapy problems in Nigeria community pharmacy – a simulated patient evaluation

  • At: PPR SIG 2021 (2021)
  • Type: Digital
  • By: SHOWANDE, Segun Johnson (University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
  • Co-author(s): Showande Johnson Segun and Lawal Sodiq Damilola
  • Abstract:

    Introduction

    Unresolved drug therapy problems (DTPs) have economic and clinical consequences and are common causes of patients’ morbidity and mortality.

    Objectives

    This study evaluated the ability of community pharmacists to identify and resolve DTP and the perceived barriers to DTP identification and resolution.

    Methods

    A cross-sectional study where three simulated patients, (2 males, 1 female) visited 36 community pharmacies randomly selected from the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, Nigeria, to enact three rehearsed and standardized vignettes which depicted the presentation of pseudo-prescriptions or medication pack to the pharmacists. A five-member panel of experts was used to predetermine the DTPs present in the vignettes (n=11), actions the pharmacists ought to take to investigate the DTPs (n=9) and recommendations to resolve the DTPs (n=9). A 43-item pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess pharmacists’ perceived barriers to identifying and resolving DTPs. The percentage ability to detect DTPs, take appropriate actions to investigate them and make appropriate recommendations were classified as Poor ability (≤ 30%), Fair ability (> 30 - ≤ 50%), Moderate ability (>50 - ≤ 70%) and High ability (> 70%).

    Results

    A total of 108 visits was made by the three simulated patients to the pharmacies. The pharmacists’ displayed fair ability in the identification of DTPs - 40.2% (4.42/11), actions taken to investigate the DTPs - 38.9% (3.50/9), and recommendations made to resolve the DTPs - 43.8% (3.94/9). Some of the perceived barriers to the detection and resolution of DTPs were lack of access to patient’s/client’s medical history, negative physician attitude towards pharmacist recommendations, and lack of software for drug therapy problem detection.

    Conclusion

    The community pharmacists displayed a fair ability to detect drug therapy problems, take actions to investigate them and make appropriate recommendations. The need for Continuing Professional Development program is pertinent.

Last update 28 September 2023

FIP Congresses