QUALITY OF PRESCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION ATTENDING A SECONDARY HEALTH FACILITY IN IBADAN, OYO STATE.

Background: High-quality prescription (HQP) which is a key player in optimal blood pressure control reflects good prescribing process and thus quality health care. Aims: To determine quality of prescription and its correlates in patients with hypertension attending a secondary health facility in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based study among 347 known hypertensive patients attending the Medical Outpatient clinic of Jericho Specialist hospital, Ibadan. Quality of prescription was determined using prescription quality index (PQI) tool and it was categorized into high, medium and low-quality prescriptions. The respondents were recruited using a simple random sampling technique (computer generated random number). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 2020. Mean, standard deviation, Chi-square and Spearman correlation were used for data analysis and level of significant was set at <0.05. Results: The mean (PQI) was 31.4±5.6; less than half of the patients 163 (47.3%) had low PQI, while medium and high PQI was found in 41(11.8%) and 143 (41.2%) patients respectively. There was a significant difference in the quality of prescriptions between male and female hypertensive patients (χ2=15.85, p-value<0.0001). Two-thirds of the patients, 229(66.0%) experienced associated health problems and this was significantly inversely correlated with prescription quality (r=-0.33, p<0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed marginally low quality of prescription, statistically significant poor-quality prescription among the male patients and higher number of comorbidities significantly correlated negatively with prescribing quality. Thus, to comply with high quality prescriptions, combined medications among hypertensive patients with comorbidities should be used cautiously.

The relationship between self-reported health status and spirituality among adult patients attending general outpatient clinic of tertiary hospital in ibadan.

BACKGROUND: Spirituality is an important aspect of health that is not always addressed in modern day medical practice. This is related to lack of clarity about the nature of the concept, however its role in researches and health service provision is being revisited because of the evergreen importance. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between spirituality and selfreported health status of adult patients attending general outpatient clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study wherein interviewer administered questionnaire was applied on randomly selected 422 eligible and consenting adult patients attending general outpatient clinic of University College Hospital between 1st November, 2010 and 31st January, 2011. Their Spirituality and Heath status were assessed using spirituality scale and self reported health questionnaire respectively. RESULT: Of all the respondents, 270(64.0%) were females while 152(36.0%) were males with a ratio of 1.8:1, and mean age of 42.8±15.9. The overall mean spirituality score was 125.7 ± 12.1, the maximum obtainable score was 138. A total of 63(15.0%) respondents rated their health as excellent, 114 (27.0%) rated theirs as very good while 150 (35.5%) respondents considered theirs as good. Respondents who rated their health as good had significantly higher mean scores when compared with those who rated theirs as poor or fair (mean difference = 3.347, 95% C I = 0.552 to -6.142 p=0.019). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that perceived spiritual wellbeing is positively related to the patient's sense of general wellbeing. Therefore, there is need to give attention to patient's spiritual wellbeing during medical encounter in the hospital.

ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF DOCTORS TOWARD ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS (ADRs) REPORTING IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY.

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions, (ADRs), constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting is the bedrock of post-marketing surveillance but under-reporting remains its major drawback. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at evaluating the attitude and practice of ADR among doctors in a tertiary health facility in Oyo State, Nigeria, with a view to improving ADRs reporting. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study involving medical doctors working at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. Consenting doctors were evaluated on their attitude and practice of ADRs through self-administered questionnaire. Data obtained were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: A total of 35 doctors responded to the questionnaires. Only about 57.1% considered ADR before prescribing, all of whom were also aware of the procedure for reporting. Awareness of the existence of National Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC) was 71.4%. Thirty (85.7%) of the respondents have encountered ADR, but only 2.9% have ever reported it with yellow form. Majority (85.7%) of the respondents did not consider ADR reporting as a useful tool in the prevention of drug related morbidities and mortalities. Other factors that may hinder ADR reporting include: lack of awareness of the existence of yellow forms for reporting (68.6%) and poor knowledge of procedure for reporting (48.6%). CONCLUSION: ADR reporting rate was very low among the participants in this small study; large studies aimed at evaluating the determinants of ADR reporting should be considered. Should these findings be confirmed, training and re-retraining through Continuing Medical Education (CME), and establishment of pharmacovigilance committee would be required to ensure a national pharmaovigilance system.

Attitude and practice of doctors toward adverse drug reactions (adrs) reporting in a Nigerian tertiary health facility

Background : Adverse drug reactions; (ADRs); constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting is the bedrock of post-marketing surveillance but under-reporting remains its major drawback. Objectives : This study aimed at evaluating the attitude and practice of ADR among doctors in a tertiary health facility in Oyo State; Nigeria; with a view to improving ADRs reporting. Methods : This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study involving medical doctors working at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital; Ogbomoso. Consenting doctors were evaluated on their attitude and practice of ADRs through self-administered questionnaire. Data obtained were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results : A total of 35 doctors responded to the questionnaires. Only about 57.1 considered ADR before prescribing; all of whom were also aware of the procedure for reporting. Awareness of the existence of National Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC) was 71.4. Thirty (85.7) of the respondents have encountered ADR; but only 2.9 have ever reported it with yellow form. Majority (85.7) of the respondents did not consider ADR reporting as a useful tool in the prevention of drug related morbidities and mortalities. Other factors that may hinder ADR reporting include: lack of awareness of the existence of yellow forms for reporting (68.6) and poor knowledge of procedure for reporting (48.6). Conclusion : ADR reporting rate was very low among the participants in this small study; large studies aimed at evaluating the determinants of ADR reporting should be considered. Should these findings be confirmed; training and re-retraining through Continuing Medical Education (CME); and establishment of pharmacovigilance committee would be required to ensure a national pharmaovigilance system