Awareness, Knowledge, Perception and Attitude towards Prescription Medicines Abuse among Medicines Prescribers and Dispensers in Nnewi Nigeria

Prosper Obunikem Uchechukwu Adogu^1*, Ifeoma A. Njelita², Nonye Bibiana Egenti³, Chika Florence Ubajaka⁴, Ifeoma A. Modebe⁵

¹Consultant Public Health Physician (MBBS, FWACP, FMCPH), Department of Community Medicine, NAU/NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria.
²Consultant Public Health Physician, (MBBS, MPH, FWACP), Department of Community Medicine, NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria.
³Consultant Public Health Physician (MBBS, MPH, FMCPH), Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
⁴Consultant Public Health Physician (MBBS, FMCPH), Department of Community Medicine, NAU/NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria.
⁵Consultant Public Health Physician (MBBS, FWACP), Department of Community Medicine, NAU/NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/pp.2015.65028                

Abstract

Background: Abuse of medicines is becoming a serious problem in many parts of the world, with negative consequences ranging from addiction, psychosis, cardiovascular complications, and premature deaths from unintentional overdose. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess awareness, knowledge, perception and attitudes toward the abuse of prescription medicines (PM) among medicines prescribers and dispensers in Nigeria. Design and Participants: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pharmacists, other pharmacy staff in retail pharmacies, licensed patent medicines vendors (chemical sellers), and medical doctors in Nnewi, Nigeria. Data were collected through self-completed questionnaire supervised by trained research assistants, between December 2013 and April 2014. Three hundred and seventy-five participants were recruited for this study. Data Analysis: The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 for windows was used for data analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate differences and associations based on selected variables. Results: The perception was high 294 (78.4%) among respondents that PM abuse was a problem in the community. Knowledge of health problems associated with PM abuse was also high at 226 (60.3%). However the attitude of the respondents towards early detection of PM abuse among their patients/clients was discouraging. Education, educational status, work status and gender significantly predict good knowledge and positive attitude about PM abuse. Conclusion: Findings from this study will assist health authorities to formulate appropriate health promotion interventions to control and prevent abuse of prescription medicines. Actions directed at early intervention, capacity building, education, public health initiatives and law enforcements will hopefully curb the menace of PM abuse in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Keywords

Prescription Medicine Abuse, Knowledge, Attitude, Nnewi, Nigeria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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