Assessment of minilab adoption level in pharmaceutical service delivery in selected tertiary hospitals in south-western Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: One of the key strategies devised to overcome the menace of spurious medicines in pharmaceutical distribution globally has been the invention of mobile quality assessment technology (Minilab®) for use along medicine supply chain in developing countries.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the adoption level and determine the availability of Minilab in pharmaceutical service delivery in selected tertiary hospitals in South-western Nigeria.

Methods: Primary data were employed and study sample consisted of 91 pharmacists from eight of sixteen available hospitals. Instruments employed were a set of questionnaire and physical observation of Minilab. The questionnaire sought to elicit information on availability of Minilab and stages of Minilab's adoption on a scale of five alternative responses comprising knowledge, persuasion, decision, application and confirmation with weighting scores of 1 to 5. Level of adoption was computed as mean of weighted averages (MWA) of the respondents' scores. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The results showed that the adoption level of Minilab was low (MWA ≈ 2) and Minilab was available in three (37.5%) of the eight hospitals but used regularly in one (12.5%) only.

Conclusion: The study concluded that both the adoption level and availability of Minilab were low with implications for regulatory policy.