Knowledge and Attitudes of Vaccination among Iraqi Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objective: Since the vaccination rate is largely affected by low knowledge and negative attitudes ofhealthcare professionals, so this study aimed to weigh up the vaccination knowledge and attitudes ofpharmacy students.Method: A pilot study using a survey to investigate demographic data, knowledge (20 questions), andattitudes (5 questions) of 156 fifth year and 121 third year pharmacy students from College of Pharmacy/University of Baghdad.Results: The mean score of knowledge and attitudes was intermediate (16.654 and 14.917 out of 25 for thefifth and the third grades, respectively) with a significant difference between the two groups, the studentsshown to have favorable attitudes about vaccination. The score of the students is not influenced by familyrelated parameters like father’s education, mother’s education, the number of siblings and preschool childrenin the family.Conclusion: A positive attitude and intermediate knowledge level about vaccination among pharmacystudents were found. This could be improved by the addition of a specialized vaccinology course to thecurriculum in pharmacy colleges and schools in Iraqi universities and going toward implementing thepharmacy-based immunization program for pharmacists by the health authorities which in turn can developpharmacists’ role in the healthcare system in Iraq.