PHARMACEUTICAL CARE PROGRAM IN A NIGERIAN PHARMACY

This single-centre study was designed to assess the impact of a pharmaceutical care program in a Nigerian pharmacy. Patients underwent 5 months of usual care and another 5 months of pharmaceutical care. During pharmaceutical care intervention, patients received a face-to-face, goal-directed medication and lifestyle counselling once a month. Blood pressure and quality of life measured before implementation of pharmaceutical care and at the end served as main outcome measures. Other outcomes were also assessed. Twenty four (24) patients out of the 40 recruited completed the study. There were significant reductions in the mean values for systolic blood pressure (14.3 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (10.8 mmHg) and alcohol misuse (33.3%) after pharmaceutical care intervention. There was a positive increase of -11.4 and -3.2 for physical health and social health domain of quality of life evaluation respectively. Pharmaceutical care programme for hypertensive patients provided in a Nigerian community pharmacy produced beneficial reduction in blood pressure and improved the health related quality of life of the patients.