Awareness and Acceptability of Surveillance and Prescribing Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Resource Capacity Building App for Antimicrobial Stewardship amomg Pharmacy Students in Nigeria's first indigenous University
1
Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria
2
Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A755
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Antimicrobial Stewardship prevents irrational antibiotics use and resistance through proper prescription and counselling. Upper-level pharmacy students as future prescribers and tech-savvy are ideal users of digital tools. The SPARC app, launched by the Nigerian government supports rational antimicrobial use (1). However, limited integration into pharmacy education hinders exposure (2). The study assessed the awareness and acceptability of the SPARC app among pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4th to 6th year pharmacy students at UNN using an online questionnaire and distributed on student platforms in August 2025. Data was exported into Excel, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi-square test and logistics regression) were used to analyze the data with the significance level at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
A total of 313 pharmacy students responded, with the majority in 6th year (n= 132, 42.2%) and females (n = 194, 62%). Of 72 participants (23%) who had previously heard of the SPARC app, only half understood its purpose in Antimicrobial stewardship. Also, 272 (87%) were willing to use the app if integrated into their training. There was an association between level of study and willingness to use the app (p = 0.032). Perceived usefulness for future clinical practice was associated with its acceptability (p = 0.017). Previous use of digital health tools was a predictor of acceptability of the SPARC app (OR: 1.082, 95% CI: 0.019-0.139; p = 0.011). Barriers to adoption included limited awareness, promotion and curriculum integration.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite low awareness, there was high acceptability among pharmacy students influenced by perceived usefulness to the profession and prior use of other digital health tools. Integrating the app into pharmacy education can strengthen future antimicrobial stewardship among pharmacists. Awareness campaigns should be targeted among health students.
Antimicrobial Stewardship prevents irrational antibiotics use and resistance through proper prescription and counselling. Upper-level pharmacy students as future prescribers and tech-savvy are ideal users of digital tools. The SPARC app, launched by the Nigerian government supports rational antimicrobial use (1). However, limited integration into pharmacy education hinders exposure (2). The study assessed the awareness and acceptability of the SPARC app among pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4th to 6th year pharmacy students at UNN using an online questionnaire and distributed on student platforms in August 2025. Data was exported into Excel, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi-square test and logistics regression) were used to analyze the data with the significance level at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
A total of 313 pharmacy students responded, with the majority in 6th year (n= 132, 42.2%) and females (n = 194, 62%). Of 72 participants (23%) who had previously heard of the SPARC app, only half understood its purpose in Antimicrobial stewardship. Also, 272 (87%) were willing to use the app if integrated into their training. There was an association between level of study and willingness to use the app (p = 0.032). Perceived usefulness for future clinical practice was associated with its acceptability (p = 0.017). Previous use of digital health tools was a predictor of acceptability of the SPARC app (OR: 1.082, 95% CI: 0.019-0.139; p = 0.011). Barriers to adoption included limited awareness, promotion and curriculum integration.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite low awareness, there was high acceptability among pharmacy students influenced by perceived usefulness to the profession and prior use of other digital health tools. Integrating the app into pharmacy education can strengthen future antimicrobial stewardship among pharmacists. Awareness campaigns should be targeted among health students.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
