Awareness and Acceptance of Use of Mobile Authentication Service by Patients

Background: Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of fake and counterfeit drugs. Interventions such as Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) is being deployed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to assist patients in confirming the authenticity of their medications. Therefore, this study evaluates the acceptance of Nigerian patients of MAS. Objective: To investigate awareness and acceptance of MAS among patients visiting the outpatient pharmacy of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.Method: This is a cross-sectional survey. The study was conducted in the outpatient pharmacy department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State from May, 2017 – August, 2017. A structured questionnaire, developed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) concept (α = 0.74), was used to assess acceptance of MAS among patients. Linear regression and correlation statistics wereused to determine predictors of MAS acceptance. Results: Significant association exist between Awareness of MAS and Use (X = 69.116, p = 0.000), Procurement at licensed community stores and Use (X =14.456, p = 0.001) as well as Acquisition at Hospital Pharmacy and Use (X = 46.053, p = 0.000). Also, Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) had a strong association with respondents’ Attitude to Use (ATT) {PU and ATT, r = 0.719, p < 0.005; PEOU and ATT, r = 0.806, p < 0.005}. Conclusion: Though awareness and acceptance of mobile authentication service is high, its use is moderate in practice. Further studies on how to improve the use of this service among the Nigerian populace is necessary.