Perceptions of Clinical Pharmacy Services Among Medical Doctors and Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital in Kaduna State, Nigeria
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Abstract
Introduction: Clinical pharmacy enhances medicine use, medication safety, and patient outcomes. However, its implementation in Nigerian hospitals remains limited due to low awareness and resource constraints. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of medical doctors and nurses toward introducing clinical pharmacy services at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conduct- ed among medical doctors and nurses at BDTH. A paper-based questionnaire divided into three sections with an open comment area was used. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed to assess the relation- ship between years of post-qualification experience and respondents’ attitudes. Results: Of the 230 participants, 82 (35.7%) were medical doctors, and 148 (64.3%) were nurses. The majority (93.7%) had a positive attitude toward the introduction of clinical pharmacy services and supported adding clinical pharmacists to the healthcare team. Years of post-qualification experience were negatively correlated with attitudes toward clinical pharmacy services (rs = -0.16, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Medical doctors and nurses at BDTH generally support the introduction of clinical pharmacy services. Immediate measures should be taken to implement these services in BDTH and other hospitals. Interprofessional education should be encouraged to enhance collaboration and healthcare quality.
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