Knowledge and practices of medication dispensing and counselling of older people among pharmacists in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria: A cross-sectional survey
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2026.007Keywords:
Medication, Dispensing, Older person, Community PharmacistAbstract
Background: Older persons (OPs) may have challenges navigating complex medication regimens due to impairments. These challenges must be addressed during medication dispensing if OPs are to adhere to their medications and benefit maximally from them. This study explored pharmacists' knowledge and practice of dispensing medication to OPs in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted out among 430 consecutively sampled pharmacists in clinical settings (hospital, n=204, community pharmacists, n=226). A validated 29-item self-administered questionnaire, including sociodemographic information, was used to assess the participants' knowledge and practice of dispensing to OPs. The total knowledge score ranged between 0 and 11 and was graded as >9.0-11.0 (adequate), 6.0 <9.0 (fair) and <6.0 (poor). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine the differences in responses to knowledge questions among the groups on a Likert scale.
Results: The majority of the participants, 322 (74.9%), had B. Pharm as the highest qualification, and 256 (59.5%) scored between 6.0 <9.0. One hundred and fifty-eight (36.7%) participants did not always provide medication information about doses and duration to OPs. The participants' opinions differ regarding the statement “Only trained pharmacists should be delegated to provide medication information to older persons” (p=0.02).
Conclusions: Many participants had a fair knowledge of dispensing to OPs. More than one-third did not always provide information on the doses and duration of medicines to OPs. There was no consensus among the participants on whether only trained pharmacists should provide medication information to older persons.
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