Pharmacists Compliance to Practice Regulations and Good Professional Practice: A Case Study of Nigerian Community Pharmacists

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to assess community pharmacists’ compliance to rules and regulations guiding the practice of pharmacy in Anambra state, Nigeria.Methods: The study was carried out using a mixed method. In the first phase, adapted and validated questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and information on some practice standards. While in the second phase, the researcher interviewed the practicing pharmacists on some of the key practice standards followed by observation of the items included in the interview. Statistical analysis was computed using SPSS and minitab versions 23.0 and 14.0 respectively. Descriptive analysis was carried out on the demographic items and other sections of the questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed by computing frequency tables. Average percentage score for each section of the questionnaire was calculated. One-way ANOVA [with post hoc test—LSD] and Independent-Samples T Test were used to examine significance relationship between demographic variables and the different dimensions of the questionnaire.Results: The response rate to the study questionnaire was 82%. While the questionnaire study had a mean good compliance level to environmental and dispensing practice standards, the interview and observation phase observed poor compliance to some items in this section. The study further observed good implementation level for pharmaceutical care, except for proper documentation. Although the pharmacists’ knowledge of pharmacovigilance activities was observed to be fair, their involvement in the activity was poor.Conclusion: The Overall findings of the study did not record an excellent compliance level to good professional practice by community pharmacists in Anambra state, Nigeria.

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“…This segment suffers from the problem of information asymmetry across the different layers of regulatory and enforcement mechanisms. There is a large variance in the quality of drug regulation across states in the country, since each state having their own regulations [30]. Drug inspectors of India who are the key players in drug regulations should be made highly qualified and be well paid to bring about the dignity associated with the huge responsibility.…”