ABSTRACT
Community pharmacies are major sources of medicines in most communities in Nigeria.
Clients visit community pharmacies to seek help in medication therapy from community
pharmacist,who has a professional responsibility to protect the public from the dangers of self
medication through provision of adequate medication counselling. It is however not known to
what extent community pharmacists fulfil this roles. The aim of this study was to examine
the nature, extent and adequacy of medication counselling practice in community pharmacies
and the factors influencing counselling practice.
A cross sectional survey of community pharmacies using simulated clients visit
(Observational study) and cross sectional survey of community pharmacists using self
administered questionnaire were carried out. Documents containing policy statements, laws
and regulations were also reviewed. Educational intervention involving training of
pharmacists in a workshop and on-site practical demonstration was carried out.
A total of 185 community pharmacies had complete data for inclusion in the analysis,
representing 89.9% response rate. Pharmacist in 65 % of the pharmacies provided
counselling. None of the pharmacist asked more than two questions, Information on dosage
and frequency were the most (48%) frequently mentioned medication information items and
information on adherence to medication least mentioned (3.6%). Only 10% pharmacies
provided adequate medication counselling. Workload in the pharmacy (number of clients
seen daily), and time of the day in which the pharmacy was accessed were found to be
predictors of the amount of counselling offered by pharmacy staff (R= -0.268 & -0.329 ; p=
0.01 & 0.002 respectively). Weak regulatory framework on counselling practice, inadequate
knowledge of medication counselling among many (72.3%) community pharmacists and lack
of medication counselling guide/aids were also identified as potential factors influencing
counselling practice.
Medication counselling practice in community pharmacies in Lagos State is grossly
inadequate. Workload in the pharmacy, inadequate knowledge of pharmacists and weak
regulatory framework should be targeted as intervention by various pharmacy and public
health stakeholders in order to improve the practice.
TIMOTHY, A (2021). Medication Counselling Practice In Community Pharmacies In Lagos State, Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/medication-counselling-practice-in-community-pharmacies-in-lagos-state-nigeria
TIMOTHY, AJIBOYE "Medication Counselling Practice In Community Pharmacies In Lagos State, Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 01 May. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/medication-counselling-practice-in-community-pharmacies-in-lagos-state-nigeria. Accessed 06 Nov. 2024.
TIMOTHY, AJIBOYE . "Medication Counselling Practice In Community Pharmacies In Lagos State, Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 01 May. 2021. Web. 06 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/medication-counselling-practice-in-community-pharmacies-in-lagos-state-nigeria >.
TIMOTHY, AJIBOYE . "Medication Counselling Practice In Community Pharmacies In Lagos State, Nigeria" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 06, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/medication-counselling-practice-in-community-pharmacies-in-lagos-state-nigeria