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

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.