Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Pharmacists as Consumers of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria
EYONG, Abiodun Komomo (PhD), ISOKON, Brown Egbe (Ph.D), AGADA, Peter Okpe (Pharm.)

Abstract
This study examines Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Pharmacists towards their participation in NHIS in Calabar Metropolis. The survey design and purposive sampling techniques were adopted. A questionnaire was constructed and distributed to seventy (70) respondents. Fishers’ exact test analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Results showed that pharmacists with adequate knowledge participated actively in NHIS (81.4%) more than those with inadequate knowledge (18.6%). It also showed that Pharmacists with positive attitude (75.7%) participated actively in NHIS than those with negative attitudes (24.3%) towards it. It further revealed that Pharmacists with positive perception (70%) participated in NHIS than those with negative perception (30%) towards it. Further analysis showed that all the respondents (100%) were aware of the existence of NHIS while 72 percent were familiar with the components of the scheme and how NHIS works. 81.4 percent showed confidence in the scheme and 85.7 percent agreed that they can encourage people to join the scheme. Also, from the study, 70 percent perceived that the scheme should continue despite flaws identified, 80 percent believed NHIS is the best policy to improve health care delivery in Nigeria and 92.9 percent agreed that it’s an intervention that should be sustained. On the basis of these results it was recommended among others that government should provide the necessary incentives, facilities and other enabling environment that will facilitate appropriate knowledge and utilization of NHIS by pharmacists.

Full Text: PDF