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Assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with diabetes is important to evaluate treatment effectiveness and identify interventions that would be beneficial to the patients. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the HRQoL of people with diabetes visiting 15 community pharmacies in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, and to identify its determinants. The English (Nigeria) version of the EQ-5D-5L was administered to 420 eligible patients between August and September 2021. Data were analyzed with SPSS (IBM version 25.0) and presented descriptively; differences in HRQoL scores were examined using inferential statistics. Statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05. Most participants (56.8%) were female; 193 (49.6%) were between the ages of 30 and 49. The median (interquartile range, IQR) for the EQ VAS and EQ-5D-5L index scores, respectively, were 80.0 (65.0–85.0) and 0.77 (0.62–0.90). Most participants reported problems with usual activities (52.7%), pain/discomfort (60.2%), and anxiety/depression (57.6%). The EQ VAS score and EQ-5D-5L utility index were significantly ( p  < 0.05) associated with respondents' age, marital status, work status, and personal monthly income. The HRQoL of participants was relatively high. Nevertheless, implementing strategies aimed at pain management and providing psychological support for people with diabetes in Nigeria may improve their HRQoL.

Background Antiretroviral therapies have remained the cornerstone to improving the quality of life among people living with HIV. Adherence to these antiretroviral therapies continues to be crucial to the clinical outcomes for people living with HIV and their overall well-being. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between adherence to antiretroviral therapy and health-related quality of life for people living with HIV. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study involving people living with HIV accessing care in three tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The study involved 877 respondents, who were selected using a multi-staged systematic sampling and administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire, and the 15D QoL Questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21. Result Eight hundred and seventy-seven people living with HIV were enrolled in the study, with the majority being females (64.5%). Of these, 66% were between the ages of 31–50 years, and 63.5% were married. More than half of the participants (63.8%) had secondary-level education and earned less than 30 USD per month. Non-adherence was reported in 456 participants (52.5%), with a mean QoL score of 0.97 ± 0.42. The mean quality of life score was significantly lower ( p  < 0.001) for non-adherent participants (0.96, S.D. ± 0.33), compared to adherent participants (0.98, S.D. ± 0.04). A multiple linear regression model showed being over 60 years old ( β = -0.020, p =  0.032), being divorced (β =-0.021, p =  0.04), and having a comorbid condition (β = -0.013, p =  0.002) was associated with lower quality of life, while medication adherence (β = 0.09, p  = 0.017) was a positive predictor of quality of life. Conclusion Adherence to ART was suboptimal in this study. Elderly People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), especially those with comorbid conditions or any of the negative predictors of QoL, are at increased risk of poor QoL and, thus, should be prioritized for QoL optimization strategies in HIV clinics. This calls for the need to review and optimize current strategies to enhance adherence to HIV care.

Background The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has significantly reduced incident malaria in children aged 3–36 months, but awareness, acceptance, and affordability of the vaccine are key to its successful rollout. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness, acceptability, and willingness to pay (WTP) for the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine among pregnant women and nursing mothers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the selected locations via a 30-item, 4-section questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and median) and inferential statistics (chi-square test and binary logistic regression) were used to analyze the data, with the significance level set at p  ≤ 0.05. Results Of the 310 participants, most were aged 22–33 years, 232 (75.0%) and had at least one child aged 3 years and younger, 180 (58.1%). Additionally, the majority were not aware of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, 262 (84.5%); agreed to vaccinate their child, 292 (94.2%); and declared a WTP, 247 (79.7%). The mean and median maximum WTP values were US $0.82 ± 1.41 (₦639.27 ± 1097) and US $0.38 (₦300) [Official USD ($) rate; (1 USD = ₦780) as of June–July 2023], respectively. Age ( p  = 0.005) and health insurance ( p  = 0.021) were significantly associated with the respondents’ WTP. Health insurance (OR: 0.417, 95% CI: 0.19–0.92) also predicted a lower WTP. Conclusion Despite limited awareness of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, participants demonstrated high acceptance and a strong WTP, suggesting that increased awareness could lead to high vaccine coverage.

Background Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) face challenges in maintaining antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, necessitating the need for targeted and innovative interventions. Digital tools have shown potential in improving ART adherence following its integration into HIV care. However, there is paucity of comprehensive evidence on its usage and effectiveness in this population who exhibit higher levels of non-adherence to ART. Hence, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of digital tools in enhancing ART adherence among AYA. Method We searched multiple databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science using appropriate keywords and Boolean operators. We screened articles for eligibility and ensured that only RCTs focusing on the role of digital tools in ART adherence among AYA with HIV were included. Results Of the 4,270 studies screened, 8 studies published between 2020 to 2024 met the eligibility criteria. The included studies involved study population between the ages of 10–24 years. The studies assessed the effectiveness of digital tools on ART adherence among AYA living with HIV with sample sizes ranging from 21 to 349 participants. The digital tools in the studies included SMS, gamified text messages, social media group, interactive voice response system, video conferencing, and a gamified mobile app. Only two studies showed statistically significant improvement in ART adherence. Adherence measures were found to be a key factor in influencing adherence outcomes as viral load-based measures were associated with the statistically significant studies. Conclusion Digital tools show potential in improving ART adherence among AYA living with HIV. Although only two studies reported statistically significant improvement in adherence, mHealth and SMS have shown promise as tools for improving ART adherence and achieving viral suppression. Future studies should employ viral load as a primary measure for the ART adherence as well as increase follow-up durations and sample size to ensure generalizability of results.

Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a major contributor to neonatal mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia remains limited. Pharmacologic neuroprotective agents have shown potential as alternative treatments, but their efficacy in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LILMICs) is not well established. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions in neonates with PA in LILMICs. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar was conducted for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and 2024. Eligible studies compared pharmacologic neuroprotective agents with placebo or standard care, excluding therapeutic hypothermia, among neonates diagnosed with PA in LILMICs. Data on survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes were extracted and synthesized; meta-analyses were conducted where appropriate. Twelve RCTs involving 1,008 neonates were included. The majority (91.7%) of studies were conducted in Asia, with only one study from Africa. Magnesium sulphate was the most frequently evaluated agent (66.7% of studies), followed by melatonin, topiramate, erythropoietin, and citicoline. Melatonin was associated with improved survival, and all agents showed improved short-term neurological outcomes. Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3, 6, 12, and 19 months were generally favourable, though data remained limited. Pharmacologic neuroprotective agents show promise in improving survival and neurological outcomes in neonates with PA in LILMICs. However, more robust, multi-center RCTs are needed to confirm their efficacy and establish them as feasible alternatives to therapeutic hypothermia in these settings.

Introduction There is growing scientific evidence of mental and well-being issues that doctoral research students face as a result of not finishing their program on time. This study aims to explore the factors associated with the timely completion of doctoral research studies in the clinical pharmacy speciality. Methods This was a mixed-method study that combined surveys with in-depth interviews. Current doctoral research students and pharmacists who have recently completed their doctoral research program participated in the study. A validated questionnaire and an interview topic guide developed from the literature and pretesting were used to collect data. Data for this study were collected between February 2021 and September 2021. Quantitative data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V.25 while interview data were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Results 47 students who are currently pursuing their doctoral research program in clinical pharmacy participated in the survey, while 8 pharmacists who had recently completed their doctoral research program in clinical pharmacy participated in the in-depth interviews. Five themes were identified: factors contributing to delay in the program, factors contributing to the timely completion of the program, ways to improve the program, advice to current students and advice to prospective students. Having more than one supervisor, supervisors’ commitment to the research work and support from the department were identified as facilitators of timely completion of doctoral research programs in clinical pharmacy. Conclusion Our study provides an understanding of the barriers and facilitators of timely completion of doctoral research programs in the clinical pharmacy specialist, and how these can be used to improve the postgraduate study programs in Nigeria.

Background Interventions involving Mobile Health (mHealth) have shown promise to improve retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant or breastfeeding women living with HIV (PBWLH). However, there are concerns surrounding the message preferences, acceptability, and confidentiality. This study aims to map and summarize the available evidence on the use of mHealth interventions in HIV care, especially ART adherence and retention in care, among PBWLH in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as their preferences, acceptability, and privacy concerns about these mHealth interventions. Methodology This scoping review was conducted through a comprehensive search using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and AJOL following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Search terms included combinations of “mHealth,” “telehealth,” “SMS,” “pregnant,” “HIV,” “Breastfeeding,” and “sub-Saharan Africa” using Boolean operators (AND, OR). Studies were assessed for eligibility, ensuring that only primary studies focusing on mHealth in PBWLH in sub-Saharan Africa were included. Results A total of 10 eligible studies were included, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative studies, and mixed-methods research. The sample sizes ranged from 20 to 825 participants, focusing on PBWLH in sub-Saharan Africa. The mHealth tools included SMS-based texts and phone calls. Most participants preferred covert messages when compared with overt messages due to privacy concerns such as unintentional disclosure of status and phone sharing. Also, there was a high acceptability of mHealth interventions. For the studies on retention in care ( n  = 5), three studies showed positive impact of mHealth intervention compared to control whereas two studies were not statistically significant. The two studies had a long intervention length compared to the three which showed positive impact. Conclusion The acceptability of mHealth interventions among PBLWH in sub-Saharan Africa is high, with a higher preference for covert messages. mHealth shows promise in improving retention in care and ART adherence, however, there are mixed results and insufficient evidence. More randomized controlled trials are needed in other sub-Saharan regions to provide more evidence. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

There is growing scientific evidence of mental and well-being issues that doctoral research students face as a result of not finishing their program on time. This study aims to explore the factors associated with the timely completion of doctoral research studies in the clinical pharmacy speciality. This was a mixed-method study that combined surveys with in-depth interviews. Current doctoral research students and pharmacists who have recently completed their doctoral research program participated in the study. A validated questionnaire and an interview topic guide developed from the literature and pretesting were used to collect data. Data for this study were collected between February 2021 and September 2021. Quantitative data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V.25 while interview data were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. 47 students who are currently pursuing their doctoral research program in clinical pharmacy participated in the survey, while 8 pharmacists who had recently completed their doctoral research program in clinical pharmacy participated in the in-depth interviews. Five themes were identified: factors contributing to delay in the program, factors contributing to the timely completion of the program, ways to improve the program, advice to current students and advice to prospective students. Having more than one supervisor, supervisors' commitment to the research work and support from the department were identified as facilitators of timely completion of doctoral research programs in clinical pharmacy. Our study provides an understanding of the barriers and facilitators of timely completion of doctoral research programs in the clinical pharmacy specialist, and how these can be used to improve the postgraduate study programs in Nigeria.

ObjectiveThe study assessed the knowledge, awareness and perception of NaProTechnology as well as the effect of an educational video intervention among pharmacy undergraduate students.DesignThe study design was a pre-post educational video intervention using a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey.Participants and settingThe study was done among undergraduate students of a school of pharmacy in South-eastern Nigeria.Intervention and outcome measuresAt baseline, the knowledge, awareness and perception of the students were assessed using a 17-item questionnaire: five questions for knowledge, five questions for awareness and seven questions for perception, followed by the administration of an educational video on NaProTechnology which was prepared by one of the authors, a gynaecologist and also an expert in NaProTechnology. A post-intervention survey was done with the same pre-intervention questionnaire to assess the effect of the educational intervention. The correct (knowledge) or positive (awareness and perception) responses for each question were reported as percentages.ResultsThere were 410 and 350 students in the pre- and post-intervention surveys, respectively, with a relatively equal number of males and females. The majority were between 18 and 29 years old. The average proportion of the participants with correct responses on the knowledge assessment of NaProTechnology was 13.2% and 75.7% in the pre- and post-intervention surveys, respectively (p<0.0001).ConclusionAn educational video intervention was effective in improving the short-term knowledge, awareness and positive perception of NaProTechnology among pharmacy students.

Background Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are associated with adverse health outcomes. The use of PIM among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) could be more problematic due to peculiarities such as antiretroviral toxicity and drug-disease interactions. However, PIM among PLHIV continues to receive little attention. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review and estimate the prevalence of PIM among PLHIV. Methods We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2024. Studies included were peer-reviewed articles that determined PIM prevalence using validated explicit or implicit tools and provided statistical information on the measured outcomes. Systematic, narrative, and literature reviews as well as case studies, commentaries, and editorials were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool. Subgroup analysis was performed for the different geographic regions, PIM criteria, age, study period, and median numbers of medicines. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analyses, publication bias, and cumulative meta-analysis were conducted. Results A total of 13 articles, including 3200 PLHIV, were included for the systematic review, while meta-analysis was conducted using 8 studies comprising 2546 PLHIV. Most of the studies (46%) employed a cross-sectional study design. 11 out of the 13 studies were conducted in Europe. Most studies reported benzodiazepines as the most common PIM among PLHIV, while hypertension and dyslipidaemia were identified as the most frequent comorbidities. Overall, the pooled prevalence of PIM was 44.8% (95% CI, 32%-58%) using a random-effect model. PIM prevalence among PLHIV was higher among those exposed to polypharmacy (59.3%; CI: 48.9% – 68.9%), those aged > 70 years (44.6%; CI: 24.1–67.1), and post-COVID (48.9%; CI: 39%-59%). Conclusion This study suggests that PIM exposure among PLHIV is a budding issue. Findings from this review advocate for mitigating measures against PIM use. Also, this review contributes data on the use of PIM across different cohorts, creating awareness for policymakers and health managers. Review registration PROSPERO – CRD42024529411.