Pharmacy Practice in Various Practice Settings: The Pharmacists’ Perspective
Authors: Chinonyerem Ogadi Iheanacho, Valentine Uche Odili
Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 14, Issue 1, pp. 14-19, (2021)
DOI: 10.5530/ijopp.14.1.4
Abstract
Objective: The evolution of pharmacy practice to a more patient centred practice will be most beneficial if the practitioners have positive perception towards the practice. The purpose of this study was to explore pharmacists’ perception of the various practice areas in pharmacy. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among pharmacists in various practice areas in Benin City, Nigeria. A four part pre-tested selfcompleted questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis. Continuous data were presented as means and standard deviations. ANOVA was used to determine differences in mean perception scores in relation to practice areas. (p- values ≤ 0.05). Results: A total of 200 respondents participated in the study. Majority 116 (58.0%) of the respondents were males, married 100 (50.0%) and practiced in community pharmacies 96 (48.0%). The average mean perception score on pharmacy practice was 3.69 ± 1.04. Community and Industrial pharmacists agreed more significantly than other groups that reward is based on effort put in (p = 0.01). More respondents in academia 13 (38.2%) and hospital practice (18, 36.7%) considered their workload to be too much, than other practice areas. Few respondents from each of the practice areas considered their practice area to be very flexible with respect to family responsibilities and this was lowest for respondents who practiced in the industry 1 (4.8%). Conclusion: Study participants from community pharmacies, Academics and industrial pharmacy had higher positive perception about their practice areas than the hospital pharmacists.
Keywords: Pharmacists’ perception, Practice settings, Hospital and community pharmacists, Academic and Industrial pharmacists, Nigeria.
