Falls and fall-related injuries are a foremost health concern among older adults aged 60 years and above. Fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) use by older adults is one related cause of falling, and it is frequently used among older adults. Pharmacist-led counselling is an aspect of patient education that has been associated with improved therapeutic outcome and quality of life in high income countries with scarcity of information in low-middle income countries. This study therefore aims to assess hospital pharmacists’ knowledge and counselling on fall-related medications using the list compiled by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare on FRIDs and orthostatic drugs (ODs). A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 56 pharmacists working in a teaching hospital in Nigeria, between July and August 2019, using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics while chi-square test was used for categorical variables at p < 0.05. Thirty-five (62.5%) were within 10 years of practice experience. Two-third (62.5%) of the pharmacists possessed an additional qualification to Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. Twenty-two (40.0%) were aware of the FRIDs and ODs list. In all, (89.3%) had “unsatisfactory” knowledge of classes of medications and specific medicines that could cause a fall. Most pharmacists 42 (80.8%) focused counsel on appropriate medication use, adverse effects of drugs and storage of medications. Knowledge score of both FRIDs and ODs were neither significantly associated with pharmacists’ years of qualification (χ2 = 1.282; p = 0.733), (χ2 = 2.311; p = 0.510) nor with possession of additional qualification (χ2 = 0.854; p = 0.836), (χ2 = 2.996; p = 0.392). Majority, 53 (98.1%) believed that patients will benefit from effective counselling on FRIDs and ODs. About half (25; 51.0%) suggested training through seminar presentation as a measure for FRIDs and ODs sensitization. A substantial gap in knowledge and awareness of FRIDs and ODs was noted among the hospital pharmacists. However, engagement of pharmacists on counsel that focus on medication use, adverse effect and storage was relatively better. Thus, there is a general need to create awareness about fall-risk-increasing drugs among hospital pharmacists, so as to help improve the therapeutic outcome particularly in the older adults.

中文翻译：

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尼日利亚某三级教学医院药剂师对增加跌倒风险药物的知识和咨询


跌倒和跌倒相关伤害是 60 岁及以上老年人最关心的健康问题。老年人使用增加跌倒风险的药物（FRID）是跌倒的相关原因之一，并且在老年人中经常使用。药剂师主导的咨询是患者教育的一个方面，与改善高收入国家的治疗结果和生活质量有关，而在中低收入国家则缺乏信息。因此，本研究旨在使用瑞典国家健康和福利委员会编制的 FRID 和直立药物 (OD) 清单来评估医院药剂师对跌倒相关药物的知识和咨询。 2019 年 7 月至 8 月期间，使用自填问卷对尼日利亚一家教学医院的 56 名药剂师进行了横断面调查。数据采用描述性统计进行总结，同时卡方检验用于 p < 0.05 的分类变量。 35 名 (62.5%) 的执业经验在 10 年以内。三分之二（62.5%）的药剂师拥有药学学士学位的额外资格。 22 人 (40.0%) 了解 FRID 和 OD 列表。总而言之，（89.3%）对可能导致跌倒的药物类别和特定药物的了解“不满意”。大多数药剂师 42 (80.8%) 的咨询重点是适当的药物使用、药物的不良反应和药物的储存。 FRID 和 OD 的知识得分既与药剂师资格年限（χ2 = 1.282；p = 0.733）、（χ2 = 2.311；p = 0.510）显着相关，也与拥有额外资格（χ2 = 0.854；p = 0.836）显着相关。 ），（χ2 = 2.996；p = 0.392）。多数，53 (98.1%）相信患者将受益于有关 FRID 和 OD 的有效咨询。大约一半 (25; 51.0%) 建议通过研讨会演示进行培训，作为提高 FRID 和 OD 敏感性的措施。医院药剂师对 FRID 和 OD 的知识和认识存在巨大差距。然而，药剂师参与以药物使用、不良反应和储存为重点的咨询的情况相对较好。因此，普遍需要提高医院药剂师对增加跌倒风险的药物的认识，以帮助改善治疗结果，特别是老年人的治疗效果。