Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine versus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: High-grade resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in East and Southern Africa has prompted numerous trials evaluating intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as an alternative to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Methods: We conducted individual participant data meta-analyses of randomised trials comparing IPTp with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine on maternal, birth, and infant outcomes. We searched the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.

Cross-sectional survey data on the socio-demographic characteristics associated with substance use among internal displaced persons in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between certain socio-demographic characteristics and substance use among internally displaced persons (IDPs). Using an adapted version of the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT) instrument, cross-sectional survey data were obtained from 520 IDPs living in three camps located in Maiduguri, Borno state of Nigeria. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 21.

Primary health care roles of community pharmacists in low- and middle-income countries: A protocol for a mixed methods systematic review.

Background: The roles of community pharmacists in primary health care cannot be overemphasized, these professionals have evolved from the traditional dispensing to providing health promotion, vaccination services, and medication therapy management as well as other areas of patient care needs. The objectives of this review are to explore evidence of the provision of primary health care services by community pharmacists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and identify barriers to these services and how these barriers can be mitigated.

Method: A systematic search will be conducted in Medline, CINAHL, Google scholar, Global Index Medicus, LILACS, and CENTRAL to identify potentially relevant primary literature for inclusion.

Psychological impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on health professions students at the University of Zambia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has negatively impacted the mental health of students across the globe. In Zambia, little is known about the psychological impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare students. This study assessed the psychological impact of COVID-19 on health professions students at the University of Zambia.

Older adults' exposure to anticholinergic medications: Implications for pharmaceutical care for Nigerian older adults.

Introduction: Anticholinergic medications which are commonly prescribed to older adults can produce more pronounced adverse effects compared to the younger population.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy, describe the prescription patterns of anticholinergic medications, determine the prevalence of exposure to high-risk anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) medications, and identify the potential predictors of exposure to high-risk ACB medications in older adults in a Nigerian secondary hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional study that included older adults prescribed at least one anticholinergic medication was conducted at a secondary care hospital in Nigeria.

Assessment of proton-pump inhibitor use at a tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) is a widely used medication class globally. Because of its good safety profile, there is a huge likelihood of inappropriate use.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of PPI use and indications, describe its pattern of usage, and identify factors associated with inappropriate prescriptions at a federal tertiary teaching hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Undergraduate pharmacy students' perceived learning using a team-based debate approach.

Introduction: Currently, teaching and learning in higher institutions is moving away from traditional didactic lecture-based learning towards student-centered learning. The objectives of this study were to implement a team debate as a method of teaching and learning about pharmacy regulatory issues, and evaluate students' perceptions of a team debate.

Methods: This was a pre-and post-study with a validated 11-item online questionnaire.

Can your patient read this? The need to move to patient-centered medication product labels and patient information leaflets.

Medication product package labels (MPPLs) and patient information leaflets (PILs) are sometimes the last source of information for patients before they take their medications. They provide a setting in which patients can immediately inform themselves about the medication they are taking or reread any content provided by physicians or pharmacists, as needed. Despite the growing number of people who are at risk of vision impairement, some pharmaceutical companies print MPPLs and PILs in fonts that patients cannot read.

Community pharmacists on the frontline in the chronic disease management: The need for primary healthcare policy reforms in low and middle income countries.

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), over 12 million people die yearly from chronic diseases and this number is expected to increase if concerted actions are not taken. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the roles and impact of community pharmacists in chronic disease management support and the need for policymakers in LMICs to reposition community pharmacists appropriately for this extended role. Recent findings have shown that community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers to the members of the community.

Biosimilar medicines uptake: The role of the clinical pharmacist.

The introduction of biological medicines has revolutionized the management of chronic diseases. Due to the high cost of biological medicine coupled with the fact that patents of many of these medicines are on the verge of expiration, manufacturers are exploring the production of biosimilars. The introduction of biosimilars has the capacity to increase competition among manufacturers, reduce prices, and improve patient access to these medicines.

Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of pharmacists: A nationwide survey.

Objectives: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and work on the mental health and wellbeing of pharmacists in Nigeria and investigate the risk of exhaustion, disengagement, burnout, and their associated factors.

Methods: This was an online cross-sectional study among pharmacists that involved the use of mental health and wellbeing questionnaire including a 16-item OLBI questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to determine the study distribution.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacists toward biosimilar medicines in Nigeria.

Background: Biopharmaceutical medicines have transformed the treatment of various long-term diseases, despite their high cost and limited availability. Due to their cost saving potentials, biosimilar medicines represent a new wave of therapy for several diseases in the next few years. Thus, pharmacists are uniquely placed to promote and enhance their uptake.

Perceived stress and its predictors, stressors and coping strategies among undergraduate pharmacy students in northern Nigeria.

Introduction: Pharmacy education may be associated with stress due to the nature of its curriculum and expectations of high-quality services from students on graduation. This study evaluated perceived stress and its predictors, stressors, and coping strategies among undergraduate pharmacy students in northern Nigeria.

Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study conducted at three randomly selected pharmacy schools in northern Nigeria.

Ethics education for contemporary clinical pharmacy practice in Africa.

The paradigm shift to a patient-centred pharmacy practice model has resulted in dramatic increases in the number and variety of ethical and other dilemmas that confront pharmacists in their routine practice. However, ethical problems may go undetected by many pharmacists in most developing countries. Hence, there is a huge need for sound educational preparation of future pharmacists before they are faced with an urgent decision.

Assessment of health-related quality of life and its determinants in the pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly being considered as a critical parameter to measure how the disease affects patients' health status, especially for long-term ailments like chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to assess the HRQoL and its determinants in pre-dialysis patients with CKD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited patients with CKD stages one to four.

Kidney Disease Knowledge and Its Determinants Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

The alarming rise in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Nigeria is likely to continue if patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) lack knowledge of this disease, its management, and practices to support effective self-management. The study aimed to assess CKD knowledge and to investigate its predictors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a paper-based questionnaire at the medical and nephrology outpatients' clinics of a secondary and tertiary hospital in Maiduguri.

COVID-19 pandemic: The role of community pharmacists in chronic kidney disease management supportive care.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting enormous pressure on healthcare systems worldwide and various countries are struggling to flatten the curve to prevent their healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. Studies have shown that people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality. However, the interruption of routine care and support due to the current challenges with healthcare providers, facilities, and essential medicines due to this pandemic is adversely affecting people with CKD.

Evaluation of medication adherence and predictors of sub-optimal adherence among pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Multiple medications are required to effectively manage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated complications, posing the risk of poor medication adherence.

Objectives: To measure medication adherence levels and to investigate the potential predictors of sub-optimal medication adherence in pre-dialysis patients with CKD.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the medical and nephrology outpatients' clinics in Maiduguri.

Quality of life of pharmacy students in Northern Nigeria.

Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of Nigerian pharmacy students and to investigate its predictors.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study randomly sampled one pharmacy school from each of the three geopolitical zones of northern Nigeria We collected data with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare groups.

Antibiotics prescription pattern and determinants of utilization in the national health insurance scheme at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Subsidizing the cost of medicines through insurance schemes increases consumption of medicines and may contribute to irrational use of antibiotics.

Objectives: To describe the systemic antibiotics prescriptions patterns and analyze the determinants of their utilization in the National Health insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Methods: Established WHO guideline was followed to conduct this cross-sectional retrospective study at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Comparative Analysis of Private Retail Community Pharmacies' Participation in the National Health Insurance Scheme of Nigeria and Ghana: Implications for Access to Essential Medicines.

Background: Frequent stock-out of drugs in the public hospitals causes National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) enrollees to purchase most of their medicines out-of-pocket in community pharmacies, thereby imposing financial constraints on them against the main objective of the scheme. The objectives of this study were to determine and compare the level of participation of private retail community pharmacies (PRCPs) in the NHIS of Nigeria and Ghana, to describe their spatial distribution, and to highlight from literature major factors that would influence the participation of these pharmacies in the scheme.

Methods: PRCPs data were collected from the Nigerian NHIS active secondary healthcare providers list of 1st July 2017 and the Ghanaian NHIS active providers online list of 2018.