American Journal of Health Research

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Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing

Received: 02 September 2014    Accepted: 19 September 2014    Published: 27 September 2014
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Abstract

Supplementary prescribing is a modern clinical practice of utilizing allied health professionals to make drug administration easier and more accessible for patients. In the UK, physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary to independent prescribers. Nigerian physiotherapists are still restricted to the traditional roles of clinical practice. This study aimed at determining the perception of Nigerian physiotherapists on being enlisted and legislated as supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 313 licensed physiotherapists from 35 selected health institutions in Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric inferential statistics (chi square). Results showed that a significant number of respondents (85.3%) would like to be supplementary prescribers (X2 =407.08, P < 0.001) and would also want a legislation that would protect them against litigations. They would also like to prescribe analgesics (84.3%), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (79.2%) and muscle relaxants (78.9%). Very few (5.8%) would like to prescribe all classes of drugs. Almost all respondents (90.4%) desired to improve their pharmacotherapy knowledge in order to meet requirements that would be needed for supplementary prescribing. The perceived benefits included effectiveness of combined therapy (83.4%) and timely drug intervention (61.0%). In conclusion, most physiotherapists would like to be supplementary prescribers, and would like to prescribe analgesics, muscle relaxants and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They were also willing to gain more pharmacology knowledge.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11
Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 2, Issue 5-1, October 2014)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Supplementary Prescribing in Nigeria: A Needy Concept to Promote Clinical Physiotherapy Practice

Page(s) 1-5
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Perception, Nigerian Physiotherapists, Enlistment, Legislation, Supplementary Prescribing

References
[1] Daily Mail (2012). British physiotherapists become first in the world to be allowed to prescribe medicines for their patients. Available at: . Accessed 9 March 2013.
[2] Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2004). Best Practice Guidance for Supplementary Prescribing by Nurses within the HPSS in Northern Ireland. www.department-of-HealthSocialServices-and-Public.Safety.com. Accessed 19 March 2014
[3] Physiotherapy Pain Association (2007). Supplementary Prescribing- can it have a place in pain management physiotherapy? A personal review.
[4] Courtenay M and Griffiths M (2010). Independent and Supplementary Prescribing: An Essential Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press ;2010.
[5] Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2004). Prescribing Rights for Physiotherapists - an update August 2004 page 11. www.csp.prescribingrights forphysiotherapists.com. Accessed 13th August 2013.
[6] Chatered society of physiotherapy (2012). UK physiotherapists first in the world to prescribe medicines independently after campaigning by CSP. pressoffice@csp.org.uk.
[7] Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Bamitale Kayode D S, Olaogun Matthew O B, Makinde Olufisayo Olukemi, Adetoogun Gbadegesin Elubode, Odeyemi Emmanuel (2012). Opinion and knowledge of Nigerian physiotherapists on relevance and usefulness of pharmacology education on dosage of topical medications. International journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, vol 2 (4), 55 - 63
[8] Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Adereni Adebiyi Solomon, Bamitale Kayode D S, Kambalametore SVK, M’kumbuzi Vyvienne, Margaret Wazakili (2013). Changing the prescription status of physiotherapists: Perception of Nigerian physiotherapists. Vol. 16, No 2 (2013), Available at http://www.njmr.org.ng. Accessed on 17th June 2014.
[9] MHRA (2013). Supplementary Prescribing.Available at:
[10] Emmerton L, Marriott J, Bessell T, Nissen L, Dean L (2005). Pharmacists and Prescribing Rights: Review of International Developments. J Pharm Pharmaceut Sci; 8(2):217-225.
[11] LeCraw L. L (2007). Use of clinical practice guidelines in medical malpractice litigation. American society of Clinical Oncology, Me Rev Stat Ann Tit 24, 2971 – 2979.
[12] Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa, M’Kumbuzi Vyvienne, Mlenzana Nondwe, Manie Shamilar, Tarimo Nesto, Mukoka Grace (2014). Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian doctors. Submitted for publication in the American journ of Health Research.
[13] Australian Medical Association (2012). AMA takes strong stance on non-medical prescribing. Available through:https://ama.com.au/media/ama-takes-strong-stance-non-medical prescribing Accessed 29 August, 2013.
[14] Moore RA, Tramer MR, Carroll D, Wiffen PJ, McQuay HJ (1998). Quantitative systematic review of topically applied non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Brit. Med. J; 316: 333-338.
[15] Grimmer K, Kumar S, Gilbert A and Milanese S (2002). Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Physiotherapists’ use, knowledge, and attitudes. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy; 48, pp. 82-91.
[16] Active care physiotherapy clinic (2014). Muscle relaxant. www.activecare physiotherapyclinic/musclerelaxant. Accessed on 28th June 2014.
[17] Ger L.P, Lee M.C, Wong C.S, Chao S.S, Wang J. J, Ho S.T (2003). The effects of education and clinical practice on knowledge enlightenment; and attitude towards the use of analgesic for cancer pain among physicians and medical students. Acta anaethesiol. Sin, 41 (3); 105 – 114.
[18] Department of Health (2005). Supplementary prescribing by Nurses, Pharmacists, Chiropodists/Podiatrists, Physiotherapists and Radiographers within the NHS in England. A guide for implementation. Accessed on the 17th March 2014.
[19] Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2013). Practice guidance for physiotherapist supplementary and/or independent prescribers in the safe use of medicines. (2nd Edition). [Accessed 29 August, 2013].
Author Information
  • Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

  • Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

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  • APA Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Tijani Aishat Idowu. (2014). Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing. American Journal of Health Research, 2(5-1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11

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    ACS Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim; Tijani Aishat Idowu. Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing. Am. J. Health Res. 2014, 2(5-1), 1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11

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    AMA Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Tijani Aishat Idowu. Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing. Am J Health Res. 2014;2(5-1):1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11,
      author = {Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim and Tijani Aishat Idowu},
      title = {Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5-1},
      pages = {1-5},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11},
      abstract = {Supplementary prescribing is a modern clinical practice of utilizing allied health professionals to make drug administration easier and more accessible for patients. In the UK, physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary to independent prescribers. Nigerian physiotherapists are still restricted to the traditional roles of clinical practice. This study aimed at determining the perception of Nigerian physiotherapists on being enlisted and legislated as supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 313 licensed physiotherapists from 35 selected health institutions in Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric inferential statistics (chi square). Results showed that a significant number of respondents (85.3%) would like to be supplementary prescribers (X2 =407.08, P < 0.001) and would also want a legislation that would protect them against litigations. They would also like to prescribe analgesics (84.3%), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (79.2%) and muscle relaxants (78.9%). Very few (5.8%) would like to prescribe all classes of drugs. Almost all respondents (90.4%) desired to improve their pharmacotherapy knowledge in order to meet requirements that would be needed for supplementary prescribing. The perceived benefits included effectiveness of combined therapy (83.4%) and timely drug intervention (61.0%). In conclusion, most physiotherapists would like to be supplementary prescribers, and would like to prescribe analgesics, muscle relaxants and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They were also willing to gain more pharmacology knowledge.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Perception of Nigerian Physiotherapists on Enlistment, Legislation and Benefits of Supplementary Prescribing
    AU  - Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim
    AU  - Tijani Aishat Idowu
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    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.11
    AB  - Supplementary prescribing is a modern clinical practice of utilizing allied health professionals to make drug administration easier and more accessible for patients. In the UK, physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary to independent prescribers. Nigerian physiotherapists are still restricted to the traditional roles of clinical practice. This study aimed at determining the perception of Nigerian physiotherapists on being enlisted and legislated as supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 313 licensed physiotherapists from 35 selected health institutions in Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric inferential statistics (chi square). Results showed that a significant number of respondents (85.3%) would like to be supplementary prescribers (X2 =407.08, P < 0.001) and would also want a legislation that would protect them against litigations. They would also like to prescribe analgesics (84.3%), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (79.2%) and muscle relaxants (78.9%). Very few (5.8%) would like to prescribe all classes of drugs. Almost all respondents (90.4%) desired to improve their pharmacotherapy knowledge in order to meet requirements that would be needed for supplementary prescribing. The perceived benefits included effectiveness of combined therapy (83.4%) and timely drug intervention (61.0%). In conclusion, most physiotherapists would like to be supplementary prescribers, and would like to prescribe analgesics, muscle relaxants and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They were also willing to gain more pharmacology knowledge.
    VL  - 2
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