Objective:
The purpose of this study was to describe the attitude of University
of Nigeria pharmacy students towards pharmaceutical care.
Method: A survey of pharmacy students in their second to fifth
year was conducted. A modified 13-item standard Pharmaceutical
Care Attitudes Survey (PCAS) was used for the study. Reliability
and factorial validity of the modified instrument were assessed.
Results: Modification of the instrument did not alter its validity.
Students of the University of Nigeria had a positive attitude
towards pharmaceutical care as attitude score of all the items
were above the midpoint score of 2.5. The mean scale score of
second and third year students were significantly lower than that
of the fifth year’s (Oneway ANOVA, p<0.001). Females had a
higher positive attitude score compared to male students (Students
t-test, p=0.005). There was no significant difference in the mean
scale score among those that had work experience and those without
work experience. Marital status did not influence attitude score.
Conclusion: University of Nigeria pharmacy students had a positive
attitude towards pharmaceutical care. However, it is necessary
to provide sites were students could acquire practice experience
and these sites should be designed to enable students observe
the integration of pharmaceutical care activities into pharmacy
practice.
