FACULTY OF PHARMACY,

Study background: Drug therapy problem is one of the public health problems worldwide(Nivya et al., 2015). Drug therapy problems are classified into seven classes (Cipolle et al., 2012; Tomechko et al., 1995 ). Drug therapy problems can occur at any step of the treatment
process (Dahal et al., 2013). Pharmaceutical outcomes can be slowed by a drug therapy problem (Oparah et al., 2020). The contribution offered by pharmaceutical care practitioners is shown by the accurate identification of drug therapy difficulties (Cipolle et al., 1998). Community pharmacists are also pharmaceutical care providers. Objective: To assess the rate at which community pharmacists encounter DTPs, and action staken to resolve them. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 74 selected community pharmacies within Benin City, Nigeria. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire to assess the nature and degree of DTPs encountered and steps taken to resolve them. A convenient sampling technique was used for the study. The data was organised and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for Windows version 16.0.1. Result: All the classes of drug therapy problems were encountered by community pharmacists in Benin City. The rate at which these drug therapy were encountered varied with unnecessary drug therapy (88.0%, n=66) and non-compliance (85.3%, n=64) beingthe most encountered and dosage too high (66.3%, n=49) and dosage too low(53.3%, n=49)being the least. Other forms of encountered drug therapy problems included need for additional therapy (77.3%, n=58), wrong drug (74.7%, n=56), and adverse drug reaction(73.3%, n=55). All the pharmacists indicated that they provided a form of intervention following the detection of drug therapy problems. Among the various means to resolve encountered drug therapy problems, 82.2% (n=62) preferred to refer the patient backto the prescriber, 74.7% (n=56) adjusted the prescription, 65.3% (n=49) contacted the prescriber and only 4.0% (n=3) dispensed as prescribed. This data indicated good pharmaceutical care practice in drug therapy problems intervention by community pharmacists in Benin City, Nigeria. Conclusion: The finding from this study highlights the high prevalence drug therapy problems encountered by community pharmacists in Benin City, Nigeria. This study reinforces the active involvements of community pharmacists to resolve encountereddrugtherapy problems. Keywords: Drug therapy problems (DTPs), Community pharmacists, Pharmaceutical care, Pharmaceutical outcomes, Intervention, pharmaceutical care intervention.

In the digital era, university students are increasingly exposed to high levels of online engagement through academic platforms, social media, and entertainment, leading to a phenomenon known as digital overload. This study examined the relationship between digital overload, mental health (depression), and academic burnout among pharmacy students at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and explored how these factors influence academic performance. OBJECTIVES: To assess th prevelance of digital overload among pharmacy students in UNIBEN. To measure the degree of academic burnout (emotional exhaustion and academic inefficacy)
among the respondents. To examine the relationship between digital overload and mental health on academic burnout. To assess the extent to which digital overload and academic burnout affect students academic performance. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, with data collected from 334 pharmacy students across all levels using a structured questionnaire comprising the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way ANOVA tests

In recent times, there have been worry over the emergence of substandard drugs in Nigeria. Tetracycline is a common POM (prescription-only medication) drug with diverse clinical and veterinary use. It is often preferred due to its low cost, comparable efficacy and ease of access. This research seeks to improve clinical decision-making, contribute to quality assurance measures and support regulatory endeavors within Benin City. Visual inspection was performed on each brand of tetracycline capsules using the World Health Organization Visual Inspection of Medicines Template. In-vitro release study was performed as outlined in the United States Pharmacopeia, 2023. A modified method of Ahmed et al., 2018 was used with absorbance read at 384nm. Visual inspection of different brands of tetracycline capsules revealed that 90% of the brand analyzed met the required standard. All brands analyzed had dissolution rate in the range of 91.31 to 99.57%, 92.62 to 99.57% and 95.23 to 99.57% at 20, 40 and 60 minutes respectively. Result from spectrophotometric analysis showed that all the brands analyzed had tetracycline
hydrochloride content between 91.17% and 98.58% of the label claim, with sample D7 having the least amount of tetracycline hydrochloride 91.1%. From the results above, the various brands of tetracycline available in Benin City are of good quality. However, there are concerns that the brand coded D7 may soon be substandard having failed the visual inspection test. Therefore, periodic checks need to be performed to ensure drug products available for use are of the highest quality so as to safeguard lives and ensure efficacy.

Introduction/Background: Mental health is a critical determinant of academic success, particularly in demanding professional programs like pharmacy. Generalised Anxiety Disorder(GAD), characterised by persistent and uncontrollable worry, is a prevalent and disabling condition globally. University students, especially those in health professions, are recognized as a high-risk group due to academic pressures, transitional challenges, and systemic stressors. In the Nigerian context, these challenges are intensified by institutional constraints and cultural stigma surrounding mental health. Despite this, research is scarce focusing specifically on GAD among pharmacy students in Nigeria, creating a significant gap in understanding and addressing this issue. Objective: The objective of this study to assess the prevalence and severity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder among second-year pharmacy students at the University of Benin. Method: All eligible and consenting participants were included in the study through a census technique. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising a socio-demographic section and the standardised Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item(GAD-7)scale. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)version 27.0, utilizing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine associations, withap-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, with 75.5% of students reporting some level of clinically significant symptoms. The distribution of anxiety severity was 32.9%mild, 30.1% moderate, and 12.6% severe. The most common symptoms were “worrying too much about different things,” “feeling nervous, anxious or on edge,” and “not being able to stop or
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control worrying.” A strong majority (75.5%) of students believed that anxiety negatively affected their academic performance. Key contributing stressors included pressure to maintain high grades (72.7%), heavy academic workload (61.5%), and large study materials (51.0%). A statistically significant association was found between gender and anxiety levels, with female students reporting higher levels of moderate anxiety. Help-seeking behaviour was low, withonly18.2% of students having ever sought psychological counselling. A significant association between stress levels and anxiety levels (χ² = 33.8, p < 0.001). Individuals reporting low stress primarily experienced minimal anxiety (76.9%) and those reporting extreme stress showed the highest rates of moderate anxiety (37.5%) and severe anxiety (25.0%). Conclusion: The findings indicate a high burden of generalised anxiety among second-year pharmacy students at the University of Benin, which is significantly intensified by increasing overall stress levels and strongly linked to academic stressors and results in significant self reported functional and academic impairment. There is an urgent need for the institution to implement proactive interventions, including enhanced and accessible counselling services, routine mental health screening, academic policy reforms to reduce workload pressure, and initiatives to destigmatise help-seeking behaviour. Keywords: Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Pharmacy Students, University of Benin, GAD-7Scale, Academic Stress, Mental Health, Prevalence, Nigeria.

Background: Ear infections, particularly acute otitis media, are commonly encountered in clinical practice, often requiring antibiotic therapy. While aerobic bacteria have been extensively studied in these infections, anaerobic bacteria play a significant role that is sometimes overlooked. This study aimed to identify anaerobic bacterial isolates from patients with ear infections and determine their susceptibility profile to commonly used antibiotics. Methods: The study evaluated forty three patients from the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city over a period of two months. Clinical and demographic data of the patients were also collected which included age, gender, alcohol history, smoking history, medical history, among others. Ear swab specimens were collected and processed for anaerobic culture. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the standard agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration method. Results: A total of 76.47% of our study participants were female, and 23.53% were male. Participants aged 16-25 had the highest ear infection occurrence (38.24%). Pseudomonas spp, a facultative anaerobe, dominated the ear infections (47.06%) compared to other organisms isolated, which was more sensitive to Azithromycin(87.5%). Conclusion:.Patients aged 16-25 were more susceptible to ear infections. This study highlights the presence of anaerobic bacteria in ear infections and their varying susceptibility profiles to commonly used antibiotics. Understanding the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of anaerobic isolates is crucial for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy, especially in cases of treatment failure or recurrent infections

Since the beginning of time, specific pathological illnesses have been treated using a well-known therapeutic approach known as phytomedicine, a branch of traditional medicine. In folklore medicine, Ficus capensis (Sims) G.Don. is frequently used for
the treatment of a wide range of illnesses, including tumors, inflammation, cough, rheumatism, fever, diarrhea, wounds, and in the prevention of numerous health issues. Regarding their numerous medical and pharmacological applications, however, little
is known about their real phytochemical composition. Using suggested analytical techniques, the phytochemical components of ficus capensis leaf were examined in this study through preliminary and chromatographic examination. The results showed
the existence of bioactive substances as phenols, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids. The fact that so many of these phytochemicals are present indicates that ficus capensis extract has some potential for use in medicine. Some of the bioactive
substances found in plants that have been identified have documented medical and physiological advantages.

Background: The selection of suspending agents in pharmaceutical formulations is often guided
by trial-and-error or historical precedent, rather than systematic rheological characterization. This approach can lead to suboptimal formulations, resulting in issues such as sedimentation, poor redispersibility, or excessive viscosity, which compromise therapeutic efficacy and patient
acceptability. This study evaluates and ranks selected natural gums and starches based on their
rheological properties in magnesium trisilicate suspension to identify locally sourced efficient
and stable suspending agents that could be used for preparing stable pharmaceutical formulations. Method: Natural suspending agents obtained from starches extracted from their tubers and
grains along with other selected natural gums were compounded at varying concentrations (1–
5% w/v) into magnesium trisilicate suspensions. Formulations were assessed for organoleptic
properties, pH stability (using a digital pH meter), viscosity (using Brookfield viscometer), and
sedimentation volume over 4 weeks (for pH and viscosity) and 7 days (for sedimentation
volume). A control without suspending agent served as baseline. Results: All natural suspending agents utilized improved the viscosity and sedimentation
volume (4.76-5.01 mPa·s and 0.48-0.98 respectively) when compared to the magnesium
trisilicate without any suspending agent which served as control (viscosity: 4.12 mPa·s;
sedimentation: 0.48 by day 7). Tragacanth gum (2% w/v) showed highest viscosity (7.52 mPa·s)
and sedimentation volume (0.92 by day 7), followed by acacia gum and gelatin. Starches (e.g., potato, cocoyam) provided moderate stability but exhibited greater pH decline (to ~4.0 after 4
weeks) due to potential degradation. Conclusions: Tragacanth, acacia, and gelatin were identified as the most effective natural
suspending agents in magnesium trisilicate suspensions. Starches provided moderate but
consistent results. The study establishes that locally sourced natural polymers can serve as cost- effective, biodegradable alternatives for pharmaceutical suspension formulations.

Background: Malaria Prevention refers to all the measures and Strategies aimed at reducing or stopping the transmission of malaria- a life threatening disease caused by plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria prevention is typically low and challenging to implement when the danger is deemed low, despite the fact that it is
better and less expensive to prevent than to treat. Additionally, people’s educational background and religious preferences are linked to malaria prevention. Objectives General: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to malaria prevention among students of the University of Benin and to identify the factors influencing their adoption of effective preventive measures. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was completed by 330 Students (100% response rate). Data were coded and analysed in SPSS v21 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests; significance set at p < 0.05. Results: 330 respondents participated. Most respondents (56.1%) were between 21–25 years, indicating that the study population was dominated by young adults typical of university students. Respondents demonstrated good knowledge overall, with mean scores ranging from 2.00–2.37 (on a 5-point scale). Most students agreed that using ITNs is effective (G; mean = 1.98) and that malaria prevention is important for health. The respondents’ attitudes towards malaria prevention
were found to be moderately positive. Environmental control measures such as clearing bushes or eliminating stagnant water were practiced by some respondents, but again, only a minority engaged in these practices consistently. The ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences between faculties with regard to knowledge, perception, and attitude. This suggests
that academic discipline influences students’ understanding and mindset towards malaria prevention. For example, pharmacy students—due to their scientific background—may have
exhibited higher levels of knowledge and more positive attitudes.

: The effective integration of Pharmaceutical Care (PC) is essential for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and improving patient safety, particularly in resource- constrained Primary Healthcare (PHC) Centres. However, the successful implementation of PC
is critically dependent on the level of knowledge, attitude, and interprofessional dynamics among the entire healthcare team. Understanding these perceptions in the PHC setting is crucial for identifying enablers and systemic barriers to collaborative patient care. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of awareness and knowledge of PC among PHC pharmacists and other healthcare providers; assess their attitudes toward the pharmacist's role in PC provision; identify perceived barriers to PC implementation in PHC centres; and evaluate the level of interprofessional collaboration in PC delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Primary Healthcare facilities within Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 150 healthcare professionals (including Pharmacists, Physicians, Nurses, and Community Health Workers) were recruited using a convenient
sampling technique. Data were collected via a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The study found a generally good overall knowledge of PC (Mean = 3.71) and a highly positive attitude (Mean = 3.85) toward its implementation. Pharmacists recorded the highest mean scores for both knowledge (4.50) and attitude (4.52), with these differences being statistically significant across professions (p = 0.000). A strong positive correlation was observed
between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.736, p < 0.05), confirming that higher understanding promotes positive disposition. The most critical barriers identified were role conflict (Mean = 3.94), lack of clinical training (Mean = 3.71), and limited staffing/high workload (Mean = 3.65). However, inter-professional collaboration was rated as generally strong (Mean score range: 3.87
– 4.03).

Bacteria possess special features which help them attach to biotic and abiotic surfaces alike. Adhesion of bacteria to surfaces contribute to the spread of infections via contact with these surfaces, be it biotic or abiotic. On abiotic surfaces however, bacteria form biofilms, making them more difficult to eliminate. Solubilizing agents facilitate penetration of a substance into another in which it would be normally insoluble. They are used as cleaning agents, emulsifiers, vehicles, cosolvents, etc. Lactobacilli are a type of Gram-positive, nonsporulating bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of certain solubilizing agents to detach bacteria attached to an abiotic (glass) surface, by quantifying the bacterial cells grown from a solution of the solubilizing agent. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the solubilizing agents were first determined. A non-inhibitory concentration of the solubilizing agent was then used to detach lactobacilli attached to a glass surface and the resulting solution was diluted serially and plated out. Quantitative bacterial quantification was performed by determining colony forming units/ml. Spectrophotometric method was used to qualitatively quantify bacterial detachment. Results showed a higher cell count from the solubilizing agent than from the control, indicating that they are indeed well able to elicit bacterial detachment from abiotic surfaces.