ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 2 (4) pp. 055-063, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Opinion and knowledge of Nigerian physiotherapists on relevance and usefulness of pharmacology education on dosage of topical medications
Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim1, Bamitale Kayode D.S2, Olaogun Matthew O. B1, Makinde Olufisayo Olukemi1, Adetoogun Gbadegesin Elubode3, Odeyemi Emmanuel1
1Medical Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.*
2Department of Medical pharmacology and therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
3Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
*Correspondingauthor.E-mail: ayotesonigbinde@yahoo.co.uk
Accepted 25 January, 2013
Abstract
The aims of this study were to evaluate the knowledge of Nigerian physiotherapists on dosage prescription for topical medications using Finger Tip Unit as an index; and also to determine their opinion on impact and usefulness of pharmacology education on topical medications. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized for this study. The participants were classified into 2 groups: those who had pharmacology education (48 participants) and those without formal education (59 participants) during undergraduate training. The data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics. Thirty-five respondents (85.4%) and 37 respondents (67.3%) of those with and without pharmacology education respectively showed poor knowledge of prescription dosages using Finger Tip Unit. A range of 66.1% to 83.3% of respondents did not respond to the questions on dosage of topical medications while only a range of very few (14.6% - 37.2%) knew the equivalence of FTU in gram among the 2 groups. The result showed that 38 physiotherapists (79.1%) and 46 (78.0%) with and without pharmacology education respectively agreed that extensive pharmacology education would have improved their knowledge of topical drugs and prescription. Similarly, 39 physiotherapists (81.3%) and 44 (80.0%) with and without pharmacology education respectively agreed that an extensive knowledge of pharmacotherapy is useful to practice and that it increases the quality of clinical practice. The result of the Chi square test showed that the number of respondents without pharmacology education who agreed with the positive opinion statements was significantly higher than that of those who had pharmacology education (X2 = -2.32, P = 0.003). The study concluded that both physiotherapists with and without pharmacology training have poor knowledge of dosage prescription of topical medications using FTU. Also, most respondents opined that pharmacology is relevant and useful to clinical physiotherapy practice.
Key words: Pharmacology education, clinical physiotherapy, relevance and usefulness, prescription dosages, Finger Tip Unit.