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Dr. Irene M. A. Kretchy

Dr. Irene M. A. Kretchy
Associate Professor
ikretchy@ug.edu.gh

 

Biography

Irene Kretchy is an Associate Professor (Social Behavioural) at the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, and a Fellow of the Ghana College of Pharmacists. Irene Kretchy has a Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree, a Master of Philosophy in Psychology and a Doctorate Degree in Social Pharmacy. She handles Social & Behavioural Pharmacy and Mental Health courses in the School of Pharmacy, School of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Psychology.

 

Research interests

Social and behavioral approaches to medication use and adherence in chronic physical and mental illness from the perspectives of patients and caregivers. Biopsychosocial approaches to medicines utilization and other treatments, understanding and optimizing medication-related behaviours including adherence and the assessment of  perceptions and experiences of illness and treatment for physical and mental illnesses.

 

Projects

1. The role of complementary and alternative medicine in healthcare

2. Determinants of medication use and other treatment uptakes

3. Understanding medication adherence and medication related behaviours from the perspectives of patients and caregivers.

4. Contextual Awareness, Response and Evaluation: Diabetes in Ghana

5. Stigma, Violence Experience and Mental Wellbeing among COVID-19 Survivors in Ghana

6. Preventing Suicide in Ghana: Risk and Protective Factors among University Students with Policy Implications

7. Improving Equitable Access to Essential Medicines in Ghana through Bridging the Gaps in Implementing Medicines Pricing Policy.

8. Ethnopharmacological survey of commonly sold herbal medicinal plants and products

9. Economic and psychological burden of caregiving for patients with schizophrenia

 

Publications

  1. Amponsah SK, Odamtten G, Adams A, Kretchy IA (2022). A comparative analysis of pattern and attitude towards self-medication among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students in University of Ghana. Pan African Medical Journal. 41:254. 
  2. Appiah B, Asamoah-Akuoko L, Samman E, Koduah A, Kretchy IA, Ludu JY, Odonkor G, Nam SH, Gyansa-Luterrodt M (2022). The impact of antimicrobial resistance awareness interventions involving schoolchildren, development of an animation and parents’ engagements: a pilot study. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. 11: 26.
  3. Kretchy IA, Boadu JA, Kretchy JP, Agyabeng K, Passah K, Koduah A, Opuni KFM (2021). Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in Ghana: A national cross-sectional online survey. Preventive Medicine Reports, 24: 10163.
  4. Ocansey PME, Kretchy IA, Aryeetey GC, Agyabeng K,  Nonvignon J (2021). Anxiety, depression, and stress in caregivers of children and adolescents with mental disorders in Ghana and implications for medication adherence. Ghana Medical Journal, 55(3): 173-182.
  5. Asiedu-Danso M, Kretchy IA, Sekyi JK, Koduah A (2021). Adherence to Antidiabetic Medications among Women with Gestational Diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Research, Vol 2021, ID 9941538, 9 pages.
  6. Kretchy IA, Appiah B, Agyabeng K, Kwarteng EM, Ganyaglo E, Aboagye GO (2021). Psychotropic medicine beliefs, side effects and adherence in schizophrenia: a patient–caregiver dyad perspective. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 1-11.
  7. Appiah B, Kretchy IA, Yoshikawa A, Asamoah-Akuoko L, France CR (2021). Perceptions of a mobile phone-based approach to promote medication adherence: A cross-sectional application of the technology acceptance model. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 1: 100005.
  8. Kretchy IA, Koduah A, Opuni KFM, Agyabeng K, Ohene-Agyei T, Boafo EA, Ntow PO (2021). Prevalence, patterns and beliefs about use of herbal medicinal products in Ghana: A multi‐center community‐based cross‐sectional study. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 26 (4): 410-420.
  9. Anakwa NO, Teye-Kwadjo E, Kretchy IA (2021). Illness perceptions, social support, and antiretroviral medication adherence in people living with HIV in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Nursing Open, 8: 2895-2604.
  10. Kretchy IA, Asiedu-Danso M, Kretchy JP (2021). Medication management and adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives and experiences from low-and middle-income countries. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17 (1): 2023-2026
  11. Koduah A, Kretchy IA, Sekyi-Brown R, Asiedu-Danso M, Ohene-Agyei T, Duwiejua M (2020). Education of Pharmacists in Ghana: Evolving Curriculum, Context and Practice in the Journey from Dispensing Certificate to Doctor of Pharmacy Certificate. BMC Medical Education 20:475
  12. Kretchy IA, Boima V, Agyabeng K, Koduah A, Appiah B (2020). Psycho-behavioural factors associated with medication adherence among out-patients with hypertension in a Ghanaian hospital. PLoS ONE, 15(1):e0227874.
  13. Koduah A, Sekyi-Brown R, Kretchy IA (2020). The evolution of pharmacy practice regulation in Ghana, 1892 - 2013. Pharmaceutical Historian, 50(4): 97-108.
  14. Kretchy IA, Koduah A, Ohene-Agyei T, Boima V, Appiah B (2020). The association between diabetes-related distress and medication adherence in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Diabetes Research, ID 4760624, 10 pages
  15. Anakwa NO, Teye-Kwadjo E, Kretchy IA (2020). Effect of HIV-Related Stigma and HIV Related Stress on HIV Disclosure Concerns: A Study of HIV-Positive Persons on Antiretroviral Therapy at Two Urban Hospitals in Ghana. Applied Research in Quality of Life 2020: 1-16.
  16. Asiedu NY, Kretchy IA, Asampong E (2020). Psycho-behavioral factors associated with neurocognitive performance among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Accra, Ghana. African Health Sciences 20(2): 587-596.
  17. Appiah B, Anubhuti P, Burdine JN, Asamoah-Akuoko L, Anum DA, Kretchy IA, Sabblah G, Dodoo ANO, McKyer L (2019). Factors that influence the intention to use mobile phone caller tunes for patient reporting of adverse drug reactions: a qualitative study. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety 10:204209861987119.
  18. Conney CS, Kretchy IA, Asiedu-Danso M, Allotey-Babington GL (2019). Complementary and alternative medicine use for primary dysmenorrhea among Senior High School students in the Western Region of Ghana. Obstetrics and Gynecology International. vol. 2019, Article ID 8059471, 8 pages.
  19. Kretchy IA, Acheampong F, Laryea J, Osafo J, Asampong E, Dickson E (2019).  Personality Traits, Clinical Characteristics, and Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Hypertension in a Primary Hospital in Ghana. International Journal of Hypertension, vol. 2019, Article ID 7489875, 9
  20. Intiful FD, Oddam GE, Kretchy IA, Quampah J (2019). Exploring the relationship between the big five personality characteristics and dietary habits among students in a Ghanaian University. BMC Psychology. 7:10.
  21. Gloria O, Osafo J, Goldmann E, Parikh NS, Nonvignon J, Kretchy IA (2018). The Experiences of Providing Caregiving for Patients with Schizophrenia in the Ghanaian Context. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.
  22. Ashong S, Kretchy IA, Afrane B, deGraft Aikins A (2018). Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Psychiatry Journal,  Article ID 9850594, 10 pages, 2018.
  23. Kretchy IA, Osafo J, Agyemang SA, Appiah B, Nonvignon J (2018). Psychological burden and caregiver-reported non-adherence to psychotropic medications among patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research. 1;259:289-94.
  24. Opoku-Boateng NY, Kretchy IA, Aryeetey GC, Dwomoh D, Decker S, Agyei Agyemang S, Tozan Y, Aikins M, Nonvignon J (2017). Economic cost and quality of life of family caregivers of schizophrenic patients attending psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 17(Suppl2):697
  25. Opoku Acheampong A, Kretchy IA, Acheampong F, Afrane BA, Ashong S, Tamakloe B, Nyarko AK (2017). Perceived stress and quality of life of pharmacy students in University of Ghana. BMC Research Notes, 10:115
  26. Kretchy IA, Okyere HA, Osafo J, Afrane B, Sarkodie J, Debrah P (2016). Perceptions of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine among conventional healthcare practitioners in Accra, Ghana: Implications for integrative healthcare. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 14(5): 380–388. 
  27. Oppong S, Kretchy IA, Imbeah E, Afrane B (2016).  Managing mental illness in Ghana: the state of commonly prescribed psychotropic medicines. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 10:28
  28. Kretchy IA, Owusu-Daaku F, Danquah S, Asampong E (2015). A psychosocial perspective of medication side effects, experiences, coping approaches and implications for adherence in hypertension management. Clinical Hypertension, 21:19.
  29. Bruce SP, Acheampong F, Kretchy I (2015). Adherence to oral anti-diabetic drugs among patients attending a Ghanaian teaching hospital. Pharmacy Practice, 13(1):533.
  30. Kretchy IA, Owusu-Daaku F, Danquah S (2015). The experience of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Ghanaian patients with hypertension: results of a qualitative study. Journal of International Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(4): 121-129.
  31. Kretchy IA, Owusu-Daaku F, Danquah S (2014). Mental health in hypertension: assessing symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress on anti-hypertensive medication adherence. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 8:25. Doi: 10.1186/1752-4458-8-25. eCollection 2014.
  32. Kretchy IA, Owusu-Daaku FT, Danquah S (2014). Locus of control and anti-hypertensive medication adherence in Ghana. Pan African Medical Journal, 17(Supp 1):13. Doi: 10.11694/pamj.supp.2014.17.1.3433.eCollection2014
  33. Kretchy IA, Owusu-Daaku F, Danquah S (2014). Patterns and determinants of the use of complementary and alternative medicine: a cross-sectional study of hypertensive patients in Ghana. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14:44. Doi:  10.1186/1472-6882-14-44.
  34. Kretchy I, Owusu-Daaku F, Danquah S (2013). Spiritual and religious beliefs: do they matter in the medication adherence behaviour of hypertensive patients? BioPsychoSocial Medicine,7:15.