Community Pharmacists' Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Lagos State, Nigeria.

Objective: To explore the services community pharmacists in Lagos state provided to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists drawn from all the Association of Community Pharmacists' zones in Lagos state was done from April to June 2021. Data were collected using a structured, self-reported online questionnaire via Google Forms and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Findings: Two hundred and forty community pharmacists participated in the study; the response rate was 80.5%. Patient counseling (99.6%), assessment and treatment of common acute ailments (99.6%), and patient education on hygiene (99.6%) were the most reported services provided by community pharmacists. The COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures most frequently practiced by the pharmacists include cleaning of floors with soap and water (98.4%), provision of hand sanitizers for staff use (97.1%), and taking precautions when handling prescriptions and dispensing drugs (96.7%). Significant barriers to the provision of the services were reduced workforce in the pharmacy, time constraints, and extended working hours. Zinc (98.3%), Vitamin C (97.5%), and ivermectin (95.0%) tablets were the most reported medications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Lagos state actively provide pharmacy services and practice various recommended infection prevention and control measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection in their communities.

Opportunistic screening of cardiovascular disease risk factors in community pharmacies in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background Early identification and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors through screening are crucial in the primary prevention of CVD and reduction in healthcare-related costs. Use of Non-Physician Healthcare-workers including Community Pharmacists has been advocated as an effective and cost-efficient model of healthcare delivery. In Nigeria the use of community pharmacists for mass screening of CVD risk factors has not been explored. Objective We sought to investigate the possibility of mass CVD risk factor screening in community pharmacies by pharmacists. Setting Lagos, Nigeria. Methods Between October and December 2018 eight hundred and eighty-nine apparently healthy participants were screened for obesity, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia in ten community pharmacies. Diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia were screened for using point-of-care testing modalities. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data of the participants. Main outcome measures Prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and alcohol intake. Results Mean age of the subjects was 56.8 ± 21.1 years. Majority (57.4%) were females. Prevalence of smoking and alcohol intake were 4.3% and 26.7% respectively. 59.7% and 71.5% of males and females were either overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) respectively. Prevalence of hypertension was 28.2% in all subjects, 30.9% in males and 26.3% in females, p < 0.001. Using BP > 130/80 mmHg prevalence of hypertension was 55.1%. Diabetes was detected in 3% of the subjects while 45.3% had hypercholesterolaemia. In total, 64.1% of the subjects were diagnosed with CVD risk factors for the first time. Conclusion Opportunistic screening for CVD risk factors is possible in community pharmacies and has the ability to detect previously undiagnosed risk factors. This community pharmacy based model could serve as a cost-effective approach to primary prevention of CVD.

Correction to: Knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and practice of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease by Community Pharmacists in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

The article Knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and practice of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease by Community Pharmacists in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Information behaviour and medication adherence among hypertensive and diabetic patients in tertiary care Teaching Hospital in Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper examined the relationship between use of information and medication adherence among hypertensive and diabetic patients in tertiary care teaching hospital in Lagos State, Nigeria. It also explored the factors that influence hypertensive and diabetic patients' choice of information sources. The research is a descriptive survey that used a questionnaire to collect data. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting four diabetic and hypertension clinics in University of Lagos Teaching Hospital. The convenience sampling technique was used in selecting the patients. Participants comprised 134 hypertensive and diabetic patients. Data were collected at the clinics. Result shows that majority of the respondents 52.3. % and 23.1% either very highly utilized or highly utilized healthcare personnel such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses as their major sources of information. While 16.4 % and 19.4% of the respondents either very highly utilized or highly utilized pharmacy stores as information sources. The main factors that influence their choice of information source were credibility and relevance of the source (70.9%) and easy access to information source (53.0%). Majority of the respondents (40.3%) reported that their level of adherence to medication was good while 32.1% reported that their level of adherence to medication was very good. The study also found that there is a strong positive relationship between information sources use and attitude towards medication adherence (rho=0.726, P (0.031) <0.05). The findings may enhance understanding of the influence of information source use and medication adherence. It can also assist medical professionals and medical librarians in meeting the information needs of hypertensive and diabetic patients.

Knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and practice of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease by Community Pharmacists in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background Studies in international literature have shown that Community Pharmacists can make considerable impact in controlling cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially hypertension. In Nigeria, there are no studies on the knowledge of CVD risk factors by Community Pharmacists and their practice of primary prevention. Objective To assess the knowledge of CVD risk factors and practice of primary prevention of CVD amongst Nigerian community pharmacists. Setting Community Pharmacists in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 168 Community Pharmacists. Their knowledge of CVD risk factors was assessed with the Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire. Their opportunistic screening practices for CVD risk factors (primary prevention) were also assessed. Main outcome measures Knowledge of CVD risk factors and practice of primary CVD prevention. Results The mean age of the participating pharmacists was 41.7 (± 11.2) years and 87 (51.8%) of them were males. The median number of years of practice was 9.0 (3-15) years. Mean knowledge score was 22.1 (± 3.0) with 154 (91.7%) of the subjects scoring above 70%. An average of 95.5% of the participants correctly identified hypertension, smoking, dyslipidaemia, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes as CVD risk factors. Eighty-one (48.2%) had good practice of primary CVD prevention. Conclusion: This study shows that Community Pharmacists in Nigeria have very good knowledge level of CVD risk factors and almost 50% of them practised primary prevention of CVD.