DETERMINATION OF ATTITUDE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS TO MEDICINE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: The current global economic recession and harsh practice environment have imposed a demand on community pharmacy to ensure efficient and effective drug stock (inventory) management to enhance cost savings for valuable professional profit advantage.

Objective: This study presents the determination of the attitude of community pharmacists on medicine inventory management.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey of 125 community pharmacists selected using a simple random sampling method. The primary data were collected with the aid of a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane’s formula for a finite population. The questionnaire comprises three main sections to study the attitude of community pharmacists to medicine inventory management and are designed using simple statements on a Likert-type scale with five alternative responses having weights scores of 0-4. The collected data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis with a significance level of 5% using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

Results: The response rate was 125 (96.2%) and the questionnaire reliability was 0.97. Most respondents were located in Warri 69 (75.2%), with almost evenly split sex categories with the male 70 (56.0%) being slightly more, age distribution almost bell-shaped with the 30-39 years range being the modal range. Most of the survey respondents were superintendents 98 (78.4%), computer 79 (63.2%) usage in their premises with 67(84.8%) being used for inventory management purposes. Community pharmacists showed a negative attitude (MWA=2.46) towards inventory management with a significant association with the gender respondents (x²⁼9.32, p=0.01) however, males being more negative than females. The result shows that the community pharmacists in Delta State had a negative attitude towards inventory management. Adequate training through self-development is highly advocated.

                      

Peer Review History:

Received: 6 June 2022; Revised: 13 July; Accepted: 25 August; Available online: 15 September 2022

Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com

Received file:                             Reviewer's Comments:

Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10

Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10

Reviewers:

Rusmir Baljic, Clinic for infectious diseases, Clinical center University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. rusmir.baljic@gmail.com

Dr. Govind Vyas, Compliance & Regulatory Officer Inva-Tech Pharmaceuticals LLC, New-Jersey, USA, govindvyas03@gmail.com

Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye