ABUTH Unveils Medication Safety Research to Strengthen Patient Care and Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Zaria, Nigeria — The Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, has unveiled a prospective research project aimed at assessing medication errors and evaluating the impact of pharmacists’ interventions in improving patient safety.

Titled “Prospective Assessment of Medication Errors and Pharmacists’ Interventions,” the study was presented during a research unveiling event organized by the Education, Research and Training (ERT) Unit of the department. The research is expected to provide institutional evidence that will strengthen medication safety systems, support healthcare policies, and highlight the expanding role of pharmacists in improving patient outcomes.

Medication errors remain a major global patient safety challenge, occurring at different stages of the medication-use process, including prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring. These errors can result in preventable harm, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and poor treatment outcomes.

The research team noted that while medication safety has received increasing global attention, locally generated evidence from Nigerian healthcare institutions remains limited, creating the need for studies that reflect the realities of the local healthcare environment.

Promoting Research Excellence

Speaking at the event, Head of the Education, Research and Training (ERT) Unit, Pharm. Comfort Olurushe, welcomed participants and appreciated the commitment of members of the Department of Pharmaceutical Services toward advancing research and professional development.

She highlighted the achievements of the ERT Unit, including the department’s recognition as Best Oral Presenters at the recently concluded West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) Conference in Lagos, describing the achievement as evidence of the department’s growing research capacity.

Pharm. Olurushe reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to supporting evidence-based research that contributes to improved healthcare delivery and professional growth among pharmacists.

Study to Evaluate Medication Errors and Pharmacists’ Impact

Presenting the research proposal, Pharm. Aminu Bichi explained that the study will adopt a prospective interventional design involving both hospitalized patients and out-patients receiving pharmaceutical services at ABUTH.

Clinical pharmacists involved in the study will identify and document medication errors, assess their severity using recognized assessment tools, and evaluate the outcomes of pharmacist interventions.

The study will examine the prevalence and types of medication errors, identify medicines commonly associated with errors, determine the severity of reported cases, and assess the acceptance and effectiveness of pharmacists’ interventions.

According to the research team, findings from the study will provide baseline data that can support medication safety initiatives, improve rational medicine use, and strengthen pharmaceutical care services within the institution.

Experts Highlight Importance of Robust Medication Safety Systems

The presentation generated extensive discussion among participants, with experts providing recommendations on study design, implementation, and future application of findings.

Pharm. Odibah Onalo emphasized the need for careful planning and high-quality data collection to ensure that the study generates reliable evidence capable of informing institutional decisions.

Pharm. Ismail Aroyehun recommended expanding the study beyond the main hospital facility to include ABUTH outstation centres, noting that broader coverage would provide a more comprehensive understanding of medication safety challenges across the institution.

Providing a pharmacovigilance perspective, Pharm. F. F. Garnett, Head of the North-West Zonal Pharmacovigilance Centre and Head of the Pharmacovigilance and Drug Information Centre, ABUTH, described the research as timely and highly relevant to improving patient safety.

She commended the research team for addressing a critical healthcare challenge and emphasized the important role of pharmacists in preventing, identifying, documenting, and reporting medication errors.

Pharm. Garnett encouraged the integration of internationally recognized medication safety approaches, including strengthening medication error reporting systems, identifying Look-Alike Sound-Alike (LASA) medicines, reviewing medication-use processes, and implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce preventable harm.

Representing the Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharm. T. T. Shekarau commended the research team for initiating a study that addresses a critical patient safety issue. He reaffirmed the department's commitment to promoting research and evidence-based practice, while encouraging pharmacists across the department to actively participate in the study to ensure the generation of robust data capable of informing institutional policies and improving patient care.

Other principal pharmacists, including Pharm. Abdulfatah and Pharm. Patience, also contributed valuable observations and recommendations during the discussion.

Institutional Commitment to Patient Safety

The Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim, commended the Department of Pharmaceutical Services for promoting research, innovation, and continuous professional development.

He emphasized the importance of generating local evidence to address healthcare challenges and encouraged continued collaboration among healthcare professionals in advancing patient-centred care.

A Step Toward Safer Medication Use

The ABUTH medication safety research represents an important step toward strengthening evidence-based pharmaceutical care and improving healthcare quality.

By identifying medication errors, assessing pharmacists’ interventions, and generating institution-specific evidence, the study has the potential to guide future medication safety programmes within ABUTH and serve as a reference point for similar initiatives across Nigeria.

The project also reinforces the evolving role of pharmacists as medication experts, researchers, patient safety advocates, and key contributors to healthcare improvement.