Evaluation of Pharmacist Involvement in Wound Care Management at Secondary Hospitals in Akure, Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Wound care management is a multidisciplinary endeavor in which pharmacists can contribute significantly through appropriate selection of topical agents, antibiotic guidance, and patient education on dressing care and hygiene. However, pharmacist involvement in wound management remains underexplored in Nigerian secondary hospital settings. This study evaluated the extent and quality of pharmacist involvement in wound care management at secondary hospitals in Akure, Ondo State, South West Nigeria. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed, combining structured interviews with 30 pharmacists, review of 200 wound care prescription records, and focus group discussions with nurses and physicians across six secondary hospitals. Findings revealed that pharmacist input in wound care decision-making was minimal, with 73 percent of wounds managed without pharmacist consultation. Prescription review by pharmacists occurred in only 28 percent of cases involving topical antimicrobials. Knowledge of newer wound care dressings and evidence-based topical therapies was reported as limited by 64 percent of pharmacist respondents. There was no documented pharmacist participation in wound care rounds in any of the hospitals. The study recommends that hospital pharmacists be formally included in wound management teams, and that continuing education in wound pharmacotherapy be integrated into pharmacist development programs in Ondo State. Keywords: wound care, pharmacist involvement, secondary hospitals, Akure, topical antimicrobials