1. Prevalence and Economic Burden of Polypharmacy in a Secondary Healthcare Facility in North-Central Nigeria
BMC Health Services Research
Published: 27 August 2026
Key Findings
- Polypharmacy was common among patients attending the healthcare facility.
- Multiple medication use was associated with increased direct treatment costs.
- The study demonstrated a measurable economic burden on patients and the healthcare system.
- Findings highlighted the need for medication review strategies and rational prescribing practices to minimize unnecessary medication exposure and healthcare expenditure.
Contribution
This study contributes evidence to ongoing discussions on medication safety, healthcare costs, and pharmaceutical care optimization in resource-constrained settings.
- Self-Medication Among Pharmacy Technician Students in Offa, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health and Professional Training
BMC Public Health
Published: 19 September 2026
Key Findings
- Self-medication practices were highly prevalent among pharmacy technician students.
- Common motivations included perceived minor illness, prior experience with medications, and ease of access to medicines.
- While respondents demonstrated varying levels of medication knowledge, inappropriate self-medication behaviors remained widespread.
- The study underscored the importance of strengthening medicine-use education and promoting responsible self-care practices among future healthcare professionals.
Contribution
The findings provide important insights into medicine-use behaviors among healthcare trainees and support the development of targeted educational interventions aimed at improving medication safety.
- Evaluating Accommodation Spatial Capacity, Trainee Well-Being, and Academic Engagement at the Nigerian Navy College of Health Sciences: An Institutional Quality Assurance Survey
BMC Medical Education
Published: 26 September 2026
Key Findings
- Institutional accommodation was operating beyond its intended capacity.
- A substantial proportion of trainees reported overcrowding, inadequate personal space, poor ventilation, and excessive noise.
- Respondents identified significant effects on sleep quality, stress levels, concentration, reading ability, and academic engagement.
- Senior students reported higher levels of perceived burden compared with junior students.
- Participants strongly supported institutional measures aimed at reducing overcrowding and improving living conditions.
Contribution
The study highlights the critical relationship between learning environments, student well-being, and educational outcomes, providing evidence to support institutional planning and quality assurance initiatives within health-professions education.
Emerging Research Themes
These publications collectively reflect my growing research interests in:
- Health Services Research
- Public Health and Health Promotion
- Pharmaceutical Care and Rational Medicine Use
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Medical and Health Professions Education
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Military and Institutional Health Research
Looking Ahead
Beyond these published studies, several additional manuscripts are currently undergoing peer review and editorial assessment in international journals, covering areas such as:
- Childhood immunization and maternal decision-making
- Healthcare utilization and communication systems
- Health informatics and operational risk assessment
- Environmental and pharmaceutical waste management
- Sustainability and One Health approaches
- Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services
As a pharmacist and health services researcher, I remain committed to generating evidence that informs policy, strengthens health systems, improves patient outcomes, and advances public health practice.
Usman Bala Muhammad
Department of Pharmacy
Nigerian Navy College of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria
ORCID: 0009-0008-2811-4065