Pharmaceutical Care Needs Assessment and Intervention Outcomes in Sickle Cell Disease Patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong, complex hematological condition with diverse pharmaceutical care needs spanning pain management, infection prophylaxis, hydroxyurea therapy, folic acid supplementation, and mental health support. Structured pharmacist-led needs assessments and interventions are underutilized in Nigerian sickle cell care. This study conducted a pharmaceutical care needs assessment and evaluated outcomes of structured pharmacist interventions among sickle cell disease patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, South West Nigeria. A prospective interventional design enrolled 100 adult sickle cell disease patients attending the sickle cell clinic over a nine-month period. Needs were assessed through comprehensive medication reviews, validated health literacy tools, and patient-reported outcome measures. Structured interventions included individualized education sessions, drug-related problem resolution, hydroxyurea adherence support, and referral for psychosocial services. Drug-related problems were identified in 91 percent of patients, averaging 3.8 problems per patient. Non-adherence to hydroxyurea was the most prevalent drug-related problem, present in 58 percent. Post-intervention, hydroxyurea adherence improved significantly from 34 percent to 67 percent, and annualized vaso-occlusive crisis rates declined by 28 percent. Patient-reported pain severity scores improved significantly. Drug-related problem resolution rate was 84 percent. These findings underscore the critical unmet pharmaceutical care needs in Nigerian sickle cell populations and support the establishment of dedicated pharmacist-led sickle cell care clinics. Keywords: sickle cell disease, pharmaceutical care, drug-related problems, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, hydroxyurea adherence