Public health information needs of urban residents: An opportunity to promote pharmacists role in community health

Health information is a foundational component of public healthcare education that is intended to promote individual and community health, prevent diseases and optimize treatment outcomes for patients. Generally, health information assist people make healthcare decisions, adjust lifestyle and promote self-care. Health information needs within the community is less well studies in Nigeria, so this study aims to explore the needs for health information within an urban community. This was a cross sectional questionnaire based survey study among randomly selected adults (≥ 18 years). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as Chi square to determine association between demographic variables and health information needs. P values ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed that about half of respondents expressed their need for information related to sexual/reproductive health, childhood diseases, vaccination, identification of disease symptoms and how to participate in the medical decision making process. There was significant association between demographic variables and the need for health information. There was diversity of health information needs which reflected the desire to participate in many aspects of healthcare through access to relevant and accurate information. This will provide opportunity for pharmacists to deepen their involvement in providing health information in the course of pharmaceutical care services. Health information needs of the community was largely unmet by the cadre of health workers providing them. It’s therefore important that Pharmacists at the community level step up to fill this huge information gap as part of value added services to the public