M.I Osarenmwinda

Background: Telepharmacy, the provision of pharmaceutical care through telecommunication and digital technologies has emerged as a transformative innovation for improving access to pharmacy services, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. In Nigeria, the concept remains relatively new, and community pharmacists play a central role in its successful implementation. Understanding their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions is therefore essential for advancing digital healthcare integration. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of community pharmacists in Benin City, Nigeria, toward telepharmacy and identified potential barriers to its adoption. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among community pharmacists practicing in Benin City, Edo State. A total of 188 questionnaires were distributed using a convenience sampling technique during professional meetings and on-site pharmacy visits. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering four domains: socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, perception, attitude, and perceived challenges related to telepharmacy. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) summarized responses, while Chi-square tests determined associations between variables at a 5% significance level (p < 0.05). Results: Out of 188 distributed questionnaires, 179 were returned and analysed. Most respondents were male (75.3%), aged 31–40 years (51.1%) and held a B.Pharm degree (57.9%). Knowledge of telepharmacy was generally high: 93.3% acknowledged its availability in Nigeria, and 98.3% agreed it played an important role during global health crises. Perception toward telepharmacy was positive. Attitudinal responses were similarly favourable, with 82.6% expressing willingness to adopt telepharmacy in practice and 87.1% believing it would improve pharmaceutical care in Benin City. However, major challenges identified included poor internet connectivity (96.1%), limited patient digital literacy (84.3%), lack of training (76.4%), high installation cost (68.0%), and patients’ unwillingness to pay for services (62.4%). Years of experience were significantly associated with knowledge level (p = 0.026), while gender influenced perception (p = 0.018). Conclusion: The study revealed high awareness and positive attitudes toward telepharmacy among community pharmacists in Benin City, reflecting readiness to integrate digital technologies into pharmacy practice. Nonetheless, infrastructural and economic barriers particularly unreliable internet services, inadequate training, and low patient acceptance remain critical obstacles. Strengthening ICT infrastructure, developing national telepharmacy guidelines, and providing continuous professional training are necessary steps toward sustainable telepharmacy adoption in Nigeria.

Background: Substance use among university students has become a growing concern, particularly when such use is linked to academic pursuits. This study examines the influence of academic-related substance use on student performance, perceptions, and implications, focusing on undergraduate students in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin. Academic-related substance use refers to the consumption of stimulants, energy drinks, prescription medications or other psychoactive substances with the intention of improving concentration, alertness or academic productivity. Objectives: The study investigates the prevalence of these substances, student’s motivations for use, perceived academic benefits and the actual academic and health consequences associated with their consumption. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires to collect quantitative data from a representative sample of students (200 - 600 level). The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Among respondents, majority of the respondents (190; 66.0%) reported using substances such as caffeine, prescription stimulants or energy drinks. Among the substances used, caffeine in the form of coffee and energy drinks was the most commonly consumed (159; 55.2%). (107; 37.2%) strongly disagreed that academic pressure encourages substance use. (138; 47.9%) stated that substance use had no impact on their academic performance. The chi-square analysis indicated no statistically significant association between ADHD diagnosis and academic motivation (χ² = 6.252, p = 0.619). Conclusion: The findings revealed a high prevalence of stimulant and caffeine use, primarily driven by academic pressure, accessibility and the perceived need to enhance alertness or concentration

Vaccines remain one of the most successful and cost-effective measures for combating COVID-19. However, vaccine hesitancy which refers to delay in acceptance of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services (MacDonald NE and SAGE working group, 2015), could pose a serious problem for COVID-19 prevention and control. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff of the institution and factors associated with it. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional retrospective study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was shared to the staff in their various offices. The outcome measures were participants’ demographics, participants’ knowledge of the disease, and of course the proportion of participants already vaccinated, vaccine hesitancy rates and reasons for this hesitancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and Minitab version 19. Bivariate analysis was performed by the chi-square test, and statistical significance was accepted when p-value is < 0.05. Results: Only 140 of the study responses were analyzed. Results showed that only 42, representing just 30% of the surveyed participants have been vaccinated, whereas, 98 participants representing 70% of the study respondents have not been vaccinated/ hesitant to get vaccinated. Vaccine safety concerns (31.4%), vaccine effectiveness (27.1%) and availability (15.7%) major of their hesitancy towards getting vaccinated. Nature of job (whether academic or non-academic) with p=0.032, years of experience with p=0.004, and educational level with p=0.002 may have significantly influence participants decisions towards the vaccine. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is high among staff of the University of Benin, and this is attributable to concerns surrounding the vaccine safety, effectiveness and availability. Keywords: Corona virus, vaccine, hesitancy

Alcohol has been reported to be frequently used among commercial drivers
in western societies. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use among long
distance commercial drivers in Benin City. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among commercial drivers
from randomly selected parks in major local government (Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba Okha) in
Benin City. Data was collected using a well-structured, questionnaire developed from
previous literatures review. The instruments consist of different parts, namely demographic;
prevalence of use of alcohol and reasons for alcohol use, analysis was mainly descriptive. Results: Majority (83.78%) used alcohol. Most of the reported alcohol used was spirit
(67.57%), beer (15.54%). Those (77.7%) with income rate less than N50,000 tends to
consume spirit while those (9.5%) with income rate of N100,000 and above tends to consume
more of beer. Less than half (42.6%) of the respondents reported to have injured as a result of
drinking. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that large population of drivers consume
alcohol prior to driving and this has negative impact on the safety and health status of the
drivers. It should be recommended that the sale of alcohol in the bus parks should be
prohibited and defaulters should be punished.

Background: Vaccines remain one of the most successful and cost-effective measures for combating COVID-19. However, vaccine hesitancy which refers to delay in acceptance of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services (MacDonald NE and SAGE working group, 2015), could pose a serious problem for COVID-19 prevention and control. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff of the institution and factors associated with it. Methods: The study design was a cross sectional retrospective study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The
questionnaire was shared to the staff in their various offices. The outcome measures were participants’ demographics,
participants’ knowledge of the disease, and of course the proportion of participants already vaccinated; vaccine hesitancy rates and reasons for this hesitancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and Minitab version 19. Bivariate analysis was
performed by the chi-square test, and statistical significance was accepted when p-value is < 0.05. Results: Only 140 of the study
responses were analyzed. Results showed that only 42, representing just 30% of the surveyed participants have been vaccinated; whereas, 98 participants representing 70% of the study respondents have not been vaccinated/ hesitant to get
vaccinated. Vaccine safety concerns (31.4%), vaccine effectiveness (27.1%) and availability (15.7%) major of their hesitancy
towards getting vaccinated. Nature of job (whether academic or non-academic) with p=0.032, years of experience with p=0.004, and educational level with p=0.002 may have significantly influence participants decisions towards the vaccine. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is high among staff of the University of Benin and
this is attributable to concerns surrounding the vaccine safety, effectiveness and availability. Keywords: Corona virus, vaccine, hesitancy