Healthcare services utilisation among patients with hypertension and diabetes in rural Ghana.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain a global burden and is projected to increase due to aging, rapid urbanization and unhealthy lifestyles. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in rural districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana and to determine factors that influence utilization of health care services.

Setting: Offinso North, Amansie West, Ahafo Ano South, and Asante Akim South.

Source of medicines and medicine information by self-reported persons living with hypertension and diabetes in rural and urban Ghana.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the source of medicines and medicine information of persons living with hypertension and diabetes in rural and urban Ghana and assessing if they are influenced by predisposing and enabling factors as defined by Andersen's behavioural model.

Methods: A population based cross sectional study was conducted in four (4) rural and four (4) urban districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A multistage and proportional sampling method was used in enrolling participants aged 18 years and above.

Evaluation of a pharmacist-led hypertension preventative and detection service in the Ghanaian community pharmacy: an exploratory study.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a pharmacist-led hypertension preventative service in the community pharmacy.

Methods: This was an exploratory uncontrolled pre-post intervention study conducted from February 2012 - March 2013 in three community pharmacies in Ghana. Clients at risk for hypertension were identified and screened by the Medicine Counter Assistant (MCA).

Patient related factors affecting adherence to antimalarial medication in an urban estate in ghana.

Our aim was to measure the adherence to Artemisinin based Combination Therapy and to determine patient related factors that affect adherence. Three hundred (300) patients receiving ACT treatment dispensed from the community pharmacy were randomly selected and followed up on the fourth day after the start of their three-day therapy to assess adherence. Adherence was measured by pill count.

Patient knowledge of medicines dispensed from Ghanaian community pharmacies.

Background: One vital requirement for patient adherence to medicines is good patient knowledge of the medicines dispensed and this will invariably be linked to good labelling and counselling.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of labelling of medicines and determine patient knowledge of the administration of medicines dispensed from a community pharmacy in Ghana.

Methods: From 6th to 29th January, 2010, dispensed prescriptions of 280 clients were purposely sampled to evaluate the quality of labelling.

The contribution of Ghanaian pharmacists to mental healthcare: current practice and barriers.

Background: There is scant knowledge of the involvement of developing country pharmacists in mental healthcare. The objectives of this study were: to examine the existing role of Ghanaian community and hospital pharmacists in the management of mental illness, and to determine the barriers that hinder pharmacists' involvement in mental healthcare in Ghana.

Method: A respondent self-completion questionnaire was randomly distributed to 120 superintendent community pharmacists out of an estimated 240 pharmacists in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana.