The role of Pharmacists in optimizing care for schizophrenic patients at a Tertiary Health Facility in Maiduguri, North-Eastern, Nigeria.
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri
Abstract
Various drug treatment options, frequent occurrence of side effects and low antipsychotic medication compliance all give pharmacists an important role to play in the overall successful treatment of patients with schizophrenia. This study was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out in October 2016 that aimed at assessing the extent to which pharmacists were involved in optimizing care for schizophrenic patients at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria. All pharmacists working at the institution were administered a 18 item validated self-administered questionnaire, with their responses measured on a five point rating scale of: never, rarely, sometimes, most of the times and always. Majority of the pharmacist were positively involved in traditional pharmaceutical duties like determining drug formulary (62.5%) and identification and resolution of drug therapy problems (81.2%). Majority of them were also involved in maintaining a good relationship with schizophrenic patients (68.7%), discussing side effects of their medication (56.2%) and maintaining open and effective means of communication with other health care professionals (81.2%). Conversely, less than half reported positive involvement under the relatively newer roles such as following up patients (37.5%) and documentation of interventions (18.7%). Pharmacists need to be better educated on the importance of their roles in optimizing care for schizophrenic patients. Educational trainings should be organized both by the pharmacists themselves, and at the hospital level in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
Description
Keywords
Care optimization, Nigeria, Pharmacists, Roles, Schizophrenic patients.
Citation
6. H Yusuf, Giwa A, Mohammed S, Maaji HU, Aguye-Abdu SN, Dungus FM, Suleiman HO, Siyaka L (2018): The role of Pharmacists in optimizing care for schizophrenic patients at a Tertiary Health Facility in Maiduguri, North-Eastern, Nigeria. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research. 3(2); 132-136, Published by Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri.