Pharmacists’ Views on Necessary Intervention to Improve Pharmaceutical Care Practice in Rivers and Bayelsa States of Southern Nigeria

Pharmaceutical care concept was introduced in Nigeria about a decade ago. Professional leadership have been advocating on the need for pharmacists to adopt the practice. However, most policy changes need some form of intervention to facilitate their adoption. Hence, this research is an original and maiden one in this geographical region to investigate the views of pharmacists on the type/s of intervention necessary to improve Pharmaceutical Care practice. A descriptive study was carried out with a questionnaire between the months of January and March, 2013 among 205 out of estimated 400 pharmacists practicing in Rivers and Bayelsa States of Nigeria. Data collected was subjected to descriptive analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 15. The study revealed that 23% of pharmacists were satisfied with their level of practice. The most significant option for the type/s of intervention needed was ‘Inter professional relationship/Advocacy’-48%, followed by. ‘Making favorable laws’-41%. On method/s of capacity building ‘Institution based capacity building’ and ‘Improving practice setting’ were preferred and rated equally. Pharmacists preferred to ‘Improve documentation practices’ and or ‘Improve information and communication gadgets’, both were rated equally. Pharmacists would like to improve their practice of Pharmaceutical Care .They realize they need to be better equipped but feel that  challenges like ‘Inter professional rapport/Advocacy’ and ‘Making favorable Laws’ must first be tackled. Their views suggest that the current environment does not encourage the practice of the concept and so a deliberate, articulate plan and strategy should be employed to improve the practice.