Abstract:
Objective: To investigate if diabetic and hypertensive patients were being adequately counselled by pharmacy personnel about their medication,
disease states and lifestyle modifications at Lesotho defence force (LDF) clinic in Maseru.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetic and hypertensive patients treated at LDF clinic in Maseru from March to May
2017. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data in a face-to-face interview with patients. Microsoft Excel 2010 was used to analyse
collected data.
Results: The study population consisted of 222 participants; 22 (28.2%) of diabetic. respondents had inadequate knowledge of diabetes mellitus
complications and 56 (71.8%) had no knowledge of complications. 153 (78.8%) of hypertensive respondents had inadequate knowledge of
hypertension complications and 33 (17.1%) had no knowledge of complications. 56 (25.2%) had adequate knowledge of lifestyle modifications of
diabetes mellitus and hypertension and 164 (73.9%) had inadequate knowledge. 182 (82.0%) had adequate knowledge of their anti-hypertensive
and anti-diabetic medicines names, 20 (9.0%) had inadequate knowledge and 20 (9.0%) had no knowledge. 63 (28.4%) had adequate knowledge of
their medicines strengths, 17 (7.7%) had inadequate knowledge and 142 (64.0%) had no knowledge. 199 (89.6%) respondents had adequate
knowledge of dosing frequency and 20 (9.0%) had inadequate knowledge.
Conclusion: Hypertensive and diabetic patients’ knowledge about medication, disease states and lifestyle modifications were inadequate due to
poor patient counselling on such aspects by pharmacy personnel at LDF clinic in Maseru.
