American Journal of Health Research

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Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors

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

In Nigeria, doctors have the sole primary responsibility of prescribing medications for patients, contrarily, in the United Kingdom (UK), physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary prescribers in 2005 to independent prescribers in 2012; and this was aimed at improving patient’s accessibility to medications. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the opinion of Nigerian medical doctors on physiotherapists assuming the roles of supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek opinion of 372 medical doctors in purposively selected hospitals. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and chi-square were used to analyze the data. Two hundred and twenty-two doctors (59.7%) were unaware that physiotherapists are supplementary prescribers in UK. The number of respondents (55.1%) who objected to physiotherapists becoming supplementary prescribers was significantly higher than those who supported it (X² -3.88, p = 0.05). Amongst to that supported supplementary (44.9%) prescription for physiotherapists, 98.2%, 72.5% and 58.7% opined that physiotherapists should be allowed prescribe analgesics, NSAIDs and muscle relaxants respectively. Only 4 doctors (1.1%) supported the prescription of anti-hypertensive drugs. We concluded that most medical doctors are unaware that physiotherapists as supplementary prescribers in UK and majority of them objected to Nigerian physiotherapists being recognized as supplementary prescribers.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13
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) 12-16
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

Supplementary prescribers, Physiotherapists, Doctors, Nigeria, Medications

References
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[2] Physioped (2012). Prescribing Rights in the UK. http://www.physio-pedia.com/Prescribing_Rights_in_the_UK. Accessed on 19th June 2014.
[3] Bissel Paul, Richard Cooper, Louise Guillaume, Claire Anderson, Anthony Avery, Allen Hutchinson, Veronica James, Joanne Lymn, Elizabeth Murphy, Julie Ratcliffe, Paul Ward, Ian Woosley (2008); An Evaluation of Supplementary Prescribing in Nursing and Pharmacy. Final report of Department of Health, The University of Shefield, eprint@whiterose.ac.uk. Accessed on the 19th June 2014.
[4] Cooper R, Anderson C, Avery T, Bissell P, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A, Lymn J, Murphy E, Ratcliffe J, Ward P. J (2008). Nurse and pharmacists supplementary prescribing in the UK. A thematic review of the literature. Health policy, 85, 277 – 292.
[5] Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PNSC) (2012). www.pnsc. org.uk/pages/pharmacy. Accessed on 10th January 2014.
[6] Crown report (2000). Proposed quality framework for extension of prescribing; recommendation 3, chapter 6, pg. 39, Para 6.19
[7] Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2004). Prescribing Rights for Physiotherapists - an update August 2004, page 11, www.csp.org.uk. Accessed on 10th January 2014
[8] MHRA ((Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), (2013). In scope of supplementary prescribers, www.mhra.gov.uk
[9] Onigbinde A.T, Adedoyin R.A, Johnson O.E (2006): Effect of physical therapy interventions on pharmacokinetic variables: A preliminary review, Nigerian Journal of Medical Rehabilitation; Vol. 11.1
[10] Enabulele Osahon (2013). One doctor to 6400 patients in Nigeria. A Business Day Media Ltd. www.businessdayonline.com. Accessed on 16th June 2014.
[11] Australian Medical Association (2012). AMA takes strong stance on non-medical prescribing. Available through:https://ama.com.au/media/ama-takes-strong-stance-non-medicalprescribing. Accessed 29 August, 2013.
[12] Onigbinde et al (2013). 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. NigerianJournal of Medical Rehabilitation Vol. 16, No 2, Available at http://www.njmr.org.ng. Accessed on 17th June 2014.
[13] Crown Report (1999). Review of prescribing, supply and administration of medicines. http://www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http:/www. dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digital asset/dh_4077153.pdf>. Accessed 28 August, 2013.
[14] Moore RA, Tramer MR, Carroll D, Wiffen PJ and McQuay HJ (1998). Quantitative systematic review of topically applied non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. British Medical Journal Vol.316: Pgs.333-338
[15] Grimmer et al (2012) Grimmer K, Kumar S and Gilbert A et al (2002): Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). Physiotherapists’ use, knowledge and attitudes: Australian journal of physiotherapy; Vol.48. Pgs 82-91
[16] Lansbury and Sullivan (2002): Advising clients about prescription and medications; a survey of physiotherapeutic practice. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy. 88, No 1, Pgs. 18-24
[17] Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2013). Practice guidance for physiotherapist supplementary and/or independent prescribers in the safe use of medicines. (2nd Edition). www.csp.org.uk/.../csp../csp-pd026_practice_guidance_prescribers. Accessed 29th August, 2013.s
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

  • Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi

  • Department of physiotherapy, University of Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa

  • Department of Health and Rehabilitation science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Cape town, Cape town, South Africa

  • Physiotherapy department, Malawi Against Physical disabilities, P. O. Box 256, Blantyre, Malawi

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  • APA Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa, Mukoka Grace, Nondwe Bongokazi Mlenzana, Manie Shamilar, et al. (2014). Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors. American Journal of Health Research, 2(5-1), 12-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13

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    ACS Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim; Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa; Mukoka Grace; Nondwe Bongokazi Mlenzana; Manie Shamilar, et al. Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors. Am. J. Health Res. 2014, 2(5-1), 12-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13

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    AMA Style

    Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim, Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa, Mukoka Grace, Nondwe Bongokazi Mlenzana, Manie Shamilar, et al. Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors. Am J Health Res. 2014;2(5-1):12-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13,
      author = {Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim and Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa and Mukoka Grace and Nondwe Bongokazi Mlenzana and Manie Shamilar and Tarimo Nesto},
      title = {Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5-1},
      pages = {12-16},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13},
      abstract = {In Nigeria, doctors have the sole primary responsibility of prescribing medications for patients, contrarily, in the United Kingdom (UK), physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary prescribers in 2005 to independent prescribers in 2012; and this was aimed at improving patient’s accessibility to medications. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the opinion of Nigerian medical doctors on physiotherapists assuming the roles of supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek opinion of 372 medical doctors in purposively selected hospitals. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and chi-square were used to analyze the data. Two hundred and twenty-two doctors (59.7%) were unaware that physiotherapists are supplementary prescribers in UK. The number of respondents (55.1%) who objected to physiotherapists becoming supplementary prescribers was significantly higher than those who supported it (X² -3.88, p = 0.05). Amongst to that supported supplementary (44.9%) prescription for physiotherapists, 98.2%, 72.5% and 58.7% opined that physiotherapists should be allowed prescribe analgesics, NSAIDs and muscle relaxants respectively. Only 4 doctors (1.1%) supported the prescription of anti-hypertensive drugs. We concluded that most medical doctors are unaware that physiotherapists as supplementary prescribers in UK and majority of them objected to Nigerian physiotherapists being recognized as supplementary prescribers.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Physiotherapists as Supplementary Prescribers: Opinion of Nigerian Doctors
    AU  - Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim
    AU  - Oyeniran Tolulope Olaoluwa
    AU  - Mukoka Grace
    AU  - Nondwe Bongokazi Mlenzana
    AU  - Manie Shamilar
    AU  - Tarimo Nesto
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    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
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    EP  - 16
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2014020501.13
    AB  - In Nigeria, doctors have the sole primary responsibility of prescribing medications for patients, contrarily, in the United Kingdom (UK), physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary prescribers in 2005 to independent prescribers in 2012; and this was aimed at improving patient’s accessibility to medications. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the opinion of Nigerian medical doctors on physiotherapists assuming the roles of supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek opinion of 372 medical doctors in purposively selected hospitals. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and chi-square were used to analyze the data. Two hundred and twenty-two doctors (59.7%) were unaware that physiotherapists are supplementary prescribers in UK. The number of respondents (55.1%) who objected to physiotherapists becoming supplementary prescribers was significantly higher than those who supported it (X² -3.88, p = 0.05). Amongst to that supported supplementary (44.9%) prescription for physiotherapists, 98.2%, 72.5% and 58.7% opined that physiotherapists should be allowed prescribe analgesics, NSAIDs and muscle relaxants respectively. Only 4 doctors (1.1%) supported the prescription of anti-hypertensive drugs. We concluded that most medical doctors are unaware that physiotherapists as supplementary prescribers in UK and majority of them objected to Nigerian physiotherapists being recognized as supplementary prescribers.
    VL  - 2
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