Abdu-Aguye et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., October, 2018, Vol. 17 No.2 01-09 Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 17, No2, 2018, ISSN: 0189-823X 2 All Rights Reserved UTILIZATION OF INTERNET AND NON-INTERNET BASED DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCES BY PHARMACISTS PRACTICING IN HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN KADUNA, NIGERIA 1*Abdu-Aguye, S.N, 2Yusuf, H, 1Thomas, N, and 1Ma’aji, H.U 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Administration, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria *Author for correspondence: +234 803 201 9135 [email protected] ABSTRACT Provision of reliable information on the appropriate use of medicines is an essential component of pharmacy practice and patient care. The aim of this study was to describe the drug information (DI) needs and sources used by pharmacists practicing in Kaduna state, Nigeria and their practices when retrieving and utilizing internet based sources of DI. A survey was carried out between August and October 2017, on pharmacists working in hospitals and registered community pharmacies. The study instrument was self-administered and contained 33 items distributed in three sections. The first section collected data on the demographic characteristics of participants, while the second and third sections focused on their utilization of general and electronic drug information resources respectively. While 128 questionnaires distributed, 110 were finally retrieved. Majority of the participants were males (55.5%) and practiced in the hospital (81.8%). Drug specific and disease information were their most common drug information needs, and official drug monographs (92.7%), medicines leaflets (74.4%) and asking other pharmacists (65.5%) were their most used sources of non-internet based drug information. In addition, up to 80% had medical/drug applications installed on their mobile devices. Majority of respondents (90.5%) reported needing to search for drug information on the internet at least few times a week. Websites were the most utilized source of information accessed by them on the internet, and popular websites visited by them included Google, Medscape, Medlineplus and Wikipedia. About 73% of study participants reported ensuring that the information they obtained off the internet was authentic and they did this mainly by fact crosschecking with other websites (77.9%). The pharmacists used a wide range of drug information resources both on and off the internet, although some sub-optimal practices when utilizing these resources were observed. Keywords: Drug information, Internet, Nigeria, Pharmacists INTRODUCTION to describe information or advice provided in response to requests from health Pharmacists are drug information specialists professionals, organizations, or consumers. because they provide some level of drug This information may relate to specific information, either to healthcare patients, or consist of general information practitioners, patients or other members of promoting the safe and effective use of the public (Brand and Kraus, 2006). Drug medicines (SHPA, 2017). information (DI) also called medication/medicines information, is used 1 Abdu-Aguye et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., October, 2018, Vol. 17 No.2 01-09 The constantly expanding list of available needs and sources of drug information used pharmaceuticals, new technologies and by Pharmacists practicing in Kaduna state, medical information, in addition to the and their practices when retrieving and widened scope of pharmacy practice has utilizing internet based sources of drug greatly increased the information needs of information. the modern day pharmacist (Shields and Blythe, 2012). Pharmacists will often METHODS require information covering a wide range of Study Setting, Design and Sampling areas including drug specific information like dosing, costs, and pharmacokinetics. The study areas (Kaduna Metropolis and They also often need additional information Zaria) represent urban and semi-urban about the body, diseases or even non-drug settlements respectively in Kaduna State, treatments in order to better answer drug North-Western Nigeria, and were chosen information requests and/ effectively because around 90% of all public hospitals, counsel patients or other relevant parties. and 100% of registered community pharmacies in the state are located within To obtain all of this information, those areas (PCN, 2016). pharmacists will usually need to utilize a wide range of resources including traditional The study was a descriptive survey using a print references like drug compendia, self-administered questionnaire carried out formularies and text books. In addition, between August and October 2017. Study several online or internet based resources participants were Pharmacists (either fully have also come to be recognized as registered or interns) working in public and alternative sources of drug information private hospitals or registered community (Higgins et al., 2011; Shields and Blythe, pharmacies located within Kaduna 2012). metropolis and Zaria who agreed to participate. These pharmacists were chosen Pharmacists have a professional because it was believed that they would be responsibility to provide relevant, current directly involved in patient care and be most and unbiased drug information to patients likely to search for and use drug information and other health professionals. Therefore, that could affect patient outcomes. finding out by what means they obtain and establish the authenticity of this information Hospitals and community pharmacies were is important. A few studies have looked at chosen based on the likelihood of there the information needs and sources of drug being pharmacists present within the information used by Nigerian healthcare facilities. Therefore, all seven public professionals (Udezi et al., 2007; Adibe, hospitals-secondary and tertiary-within the 2010: Oshikoya et al., 2011). All of these study areas and three private hospitals (two studies have reported heavy reliance on print in Kaduna metropolis and one in Zaria) were material like textbooks and materials from visited. All of the pharmacists working in pharmaceutical companies. However, to the the visited hospitals or community best of our knowledge, no study has pharmacies were eligible to participate if specifically looked into the use of the they were willing. internet as a drug information resource by Nigerian pharmacists. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the information 2 Abdu-Aguye et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., October, 2018, Vol. 17 No.2 01-09 Study Instrument after which the researchers went back to retrieve them. Data from the questionnaires The instrument used in this study was was coded and entered into a Microsoft partially adapted from one used in a similar Excel 2013 spreadsheet and analyzed. study (Oshikoya et al., 2011). The Results obtained were reported using questionnaire was reviewed by five descriptive statistics. pharmacists (three in academia and two working within the hospital setting) to assess Ethical Considerations its content validity. It was then pretested on 15 pharmacists, after which minor Ethical approval was sought for and modifications were effected. obtained from the Committee on the Use of Human Subjects for Research of Ahmadu The final questionnaire was structured and Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria before the contained three sections. Section one commencement of the study contained nine items that collected data on (ABUCUHSR/2017/UG/007). Written demographic characteristics including informed consent was also obtained from gender, age, highest educational each participant before administering the qualification and years of experience. questionnaire. No potentially identifying Section two contained ten items covering information was collected, and all completed various aspects of non-internet based DI questionnaires were securely kept and utilization. Areas covered in this section handled only by those directly affiliated with included: types of information commonly the study. required, resources frequently used to search for them as well as the identity of requestors RESULTS and frequency of their requests. Section Of the 128 questionnaires distributed, 110 three contained fourteen items that described were eventually retrieved producing an 86% the attitudes and practices of respondents response rate. towards internet-based drug information resources. Some of the questions asked here Demographic characteristics of included: how often they needed to search respondents for drug information on the internet, commonly used sources of online drug Table one shows the demographic information and if and how they verified the characteristics of the pharmacists. Most of drug information they obtained from the the study participants were male (55.5%), internet. and had practiced as pharmacists for between 0-39 years (median = 3years). Data Collection and Analysis Majority of respondents were pharmacists practicing in the hospital setting (81.8%), The researchers visited all of the sampled and had the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) hospitals and community pharmacy outlets qualification as their highest educational during regular work hours and invited all the qualification (80%). In addition, around pharmacists present at the time in these 30% of them reported having previously establishments to participate in the study. If undergone some additional training on Drug they agreed, they