Pharmaceutical Care Knowledge: A Survey of Hospital Pharmacist’s Perception in Ekiti State,South Western Nigeria

The objective of the study was to assess the hospital pharmacists’ knowledge of pharmaceutical
care as a step towards promoting the full implementation and practice of pharmaceutical care in
Nigerian hospitals in other to achieve the core function as a patient-oriented hospital setting.
The study was a prospective multi-centered study that involved three hospitals each from the
three senatorial districts in the state (area sampling). In that instance, in Ekiti Central, the
following hospitals were considered; Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado (EKSUTH),
State Specialist Hospital Ijero and General Hospital Aramoko. In Ekiti North, the hospitals used
were; Federal Medical Centre Ido (FMC), State Specialist Hospital Ikole, General Hospital Oye.
While in Ekiti South, General Hospital Emure, General Hospital Ijan and State Specialist
Hospital Ikere were considered. Data were collected from forty-five (45) out of the seventy (70)
pharmacists working in the various hospitals using a self administered pre-tested structured
questionnaire. Pharmaceutical care knowledge items were aggregated fifteen (15) structured
questions measured on a 30 point scale. A mean score of 25 was obtained, and the mean score
was used to assess knowledge. Knowledge scores of 25-30 were considered positive knowledge,
while 1-24 were considered negative knowledge, and zero (0) was considered neutral. Chi square
test (X²) was used to determine the level of significance and a P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Majority (44.44%) of the respondents were within the age group of 30-
39, in terms of gender, majority (66.67%) of the respondents were male. Majority (35.56%) of
the respondents in terms of pharmacist position were pharmacist 1,71.11% which is the majority
of the respondents have 1-10 years of experience in the pharmacy practice. The pharmaceutical
care knowledge levels were 71.11%, 26.67% and 2.22% for positive, negative and neutral
knowledge respectively. Knowledge based on hospital of practice, years of experience, position
and source of information were found to be statistically significant.
In conclusion this study revealed that the interns have a low level of knowledge, while the older ones need to involve themselves in continuous education, nevertheless there was a high level of
positive knowledge exhibited by the participant in the studied area.

Author(s): Chijioke C. Mmuo, Edogun O.A and Age Solomon

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