INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Management of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Services by Community Pharmacists in Osun State Nigeria

Maduabuchi Ihekoronye Ph.D.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administrtion, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2245-5693

Oore-Ofe Deborah Akande

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

Kanayo Patrick Osemene Ph.D

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4888-9473

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5576

Keywords: Point-of-Care-Testing, technology, management, disease prevention

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Abstract

Background: Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides important opportunity for community pharmacists to participate in oriented primary patient care. Effective management of these services is required to deliver their currently- underexploited benefits.

Objectives: Assessed attitudes and practice, examined management functions deployed and identified factors affecting provision of POCTs by community pharmacists.

Methods: A questionnaire-guided cross-sectional survey of 146 randomly-selected community pharmacists was conducted in Osun State Southwestern Nigeria. Study variables were measured on 5-point Likert scales with weighted averages, median scores and ranks used to present item performances. Interquartile ranges were computed to categorize practice scores. Chi square statistic was used to examine association of variables. ANOVA and 2-sample t-test were used to compare means.

Results: A response rate of 94.5% was achieved. Respondents had a positive attitude (MWA 3.75) towards provision of POCTs as core component of their practice (MWA 4.58) with potential to contribute significantly to profitability (MWA 4.31). Respondents’ median practice score was 3.01(moderate practice) with blood pressure screening (4.77), weight measurement (4.45), and blood glucose screening (4.18) as leading POCTs, while cervical cancer screening (1.09) was least practiced. Management of POCTs was fair (MWA 3.33) with organisation of work as pre-eminent domain (MWA 3.66). Management practices were significantly associated with almost all demographic variables (p< .05). Positive public perception of pharmacists’ roles (MWA 4.31) and their improving clinical skills (MWA 4.01) were the leading enablers while the lack of enabling policy framework (MWA 3.80) and poor health information backbone (MWA 3.78) were major challenges to routine adoption of POCTs by respondents.

Conclusion: The community pharmacists had positive attitude and moderate practice of POCTs. Management of these services was fair. Improving public perception of pharmacists should be exploited while enabling legal and health information systems should be provided to drive routine adoption of POCTs.

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Author Biographies

Maduabuchi Ihekoronye Ph.D., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administrtion, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

Maduabuchi Ihekoronye is a Pharmacist and Lecturer at Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

Oore-Ofe Deborah Akande, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

Akande Oore-Ofe is a Bachelor of Pharmacy Candidate at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife. She worked on this research under supervision. 

Kanayo Patrick Osemene Ph.D, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria

Kanayo Osemene is a Professor of Pharmacy Administration, and Head, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife Nigeria