ABSTRACT
Background: Patient knowledge on medication is considered a critical aspect of medication self-management by the patient. Medication education and counseling is an important component of pharmaceutical care services. Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of medication education and counseling services offered to ambulatory patients receiving care in a typical Nigerian healthcare setting on the patients' knowledge of their medication. Methods: A cross sectional prospective study conducted at the outpatient pharmacy unit of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The patient population was divided into two arms: those who were yet to receive medication education/counseling - Arm 1, and those who had received medication education/counseling from the clinical pharmacist - Arm 2. A patient medication knowledge assessment questionnaire was used to assess patients' knowledge of their prescribed medication. Data obtained were analyzed using the IBM SPSS computer package version 25.0. Results: Three hundred and ninety-one outpatients (196 in Arm-1 and 195 in Arm-2) participated in the study. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean medication knowledge score between patients in Arm-1 and those in Arm-2. Patients in Arm-2 had a statistically significant higher mean medication knowledge score than those in Arm-1 (5.228 versus 3.191; t = 10.152; P = 0.000). Conclusion: Outpatients who received medication education and counseling from clinical pharmacists had better knowledge of their prescribed medications than those who were yet to receive this pharmaceutical intervention.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: with the introduction of newer and safer antiretroviral drugs, HIV positive persons are now living longer. Consequently, cardiovascular diseases associated with ageing and chronic low grade inflammation due to the presence of the virus are increasingly found in this population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and control of hypertension among people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving care at a Nigerian hospital. Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Patient´s HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (PHKQ) validation study among HIV positive outpatients at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Hypertension was self-reported and confirmed by a documented physician diagnosis in the patient´s case notes and/or self-reported use of antihypertensive medication. For each participant, the average of two close blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained using an automatic upper arm BP monitor was taken as the BP. Hypertension control was defined as SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg. Data were analysed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) v.21.0. Results were considered significant at p < 0.05. Results: prevalence of hypertension among PLHIV was 24.9%. Age (OR = 1.112, CI = 1.074 - 1.151, p < 0.001), body mass index (OR = 1.087, CI = 1.024 - 1.154, p = 0.004) and duration on antiretroviral therapy (OR = 1.169, CI = 1.090 - 1.254, p < 0.001) significantly predicted hypertension. Only 19 (24.4%) participants had controlled hypertension. Conclusion: hypertension is common among PLHIV seeking care at a Nigerian hospital. However, its control remains suboptimal. Regular screening for hypertension, its appropriate treatment and optimal control are essential in PLHIV.
