ASSESSMENT OF DRUG THERAPY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE NIGERIA
Faculty
Department
Year of Publication
upload
Publication Type
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs) are a major global public health concern, contributing significantly to preventable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, particularly
in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Community pharmacists, as the most accessible healthcare providers, are pivotal in addressing DTPs, which range from inappropriate prescribing and dosing errors to patient non-adherence. However, the prevalence and specific characteristics of DTPs encountered in Nigerian
community practice are often underreported and undocumented, creating a critical knowledge
gap that hinders targeted intervention development. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs) encountered by community pharmacists in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to
determine the prevalence and classes of DTPs using Cipolle’s classification and to explore
factors associated with their occurrence in community pharmacy practice. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a calculated sample of 169 community pharmacists in five local government areas of Benin City. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire focused on pharmacist demographics and the frequency of DTPs experienced over a three-month period, classified according to the Cipolle–Strand–Morley model. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 30, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and Chi-square tests to assess associations, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of 169 pharmacist respondents, the majority were male (55.6%) and relatively
young, aged 30–39 years (34.3%), with Pharm.D being the highest qualification (47.3%). The
study confirmed a high occurrence of DTPs. The most frequently encountered DTPs were
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) (49.1% reported often/always), Dosage too high (46.1%
reported often/always), Ineffective drug therapy (41.4% reported often/always), and Non- adherence to medication regimen (39.1% reported often/always). Chi-square analysis showed no
statistically significant association between demographic factors (gender, age, years of
experience, qualification, or ownership) and the overall occurrence of DTPs (p > 0.05) although
descriptive trends indicated that younger pharmacists (20–39 years), those with less than 10
years of experience, and Pharm.D holders reported higher DTP rates. CONCLUSION: Drug therapy problems are highly prevalent in community pharmacy practice in
Benin City, with issues related to dosage errors, adverse reactions, and patient non-adherence
being the most dominant. This high prevalence necessitates the urgent adoption of structured
pharmaceutical care documentation systems, enhanced patient counselling, and institutionalized
collaboration between community pharmacists and prescribers to mitigate medication-related
harm and optimize patient outcomes
in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Community pharmacists, as the most accessible healthcare providers, are pivotal in addressing DTPs, which range from inappropriate prescribing and dosing errors to patient non-adherence. However, the prevalence and specific characteristics of DTPs encountered in Nigerian
community practice are often underreported and undocumented, creating a critical knowledge
gap that hinders targeted intervention development. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs) encountered by community pharmacists in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to
determine the prevalence and classes of DTPs using Cipolle’s classification and to explore
factors associated with their occurrence in community pharmacy practice. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a calculated sample of 169 community pharmacists in five local government areas of Benin City. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire focused on pharmacist demographics and the frequency of DTPs experienced over a three-month period, classified according to the Cipolle–Strand–Morley model. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 30, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and Chi-square tests to assess associations, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of 169 pharmacist respondents, the majority were male (55.6%) and relatively
young, aged 30–39 years (34.3%), with Pharm.D being the highest qualification (47.3%). The
study confirmed a high occurrence of DTPs. The most frequently encountered DTPs were
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) (49.1% reported often/always), Dosage too high (46.1%
reported often/always), Ineffective drug therapy (41.4% reported often/always), and Non- adherence to medication regimen (39.1% reported often/always). Chi-square analysis showed no
statistically significant association between demographic factors (gender, age, years of
experience, qualification, or ownership) and the overall occurrence of DTPs (p > 0.05) although
descriptive trends indicated that younger pharmacists (20–39 years), those with less than 10
years of experience, and Pharm.D holders reported higher DTP rates. CONCLUSION: Drug therapy problems are highly prevalent in community pharmacy practice in
Benin City, with issues related to dosage errors, adverse reactions, and patient non-adherence
being the most dominant. This high prevalence necessitates the urgent adoption of structured
pharmaceutical care documentation systems, enhanced patient counselling, and institutionalized
collaboration between community pharmacists and prescribers to mitigate medication-related
harm and optimize patient outcomes
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor