Practices Of Community Pharmacists Research Articles

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Practices of Community Pharmacists in Jos Metropolis

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Practices of Community Pharmacists in Jos Metropolis

Actual practices of community pharmacists in the management of diabetes: a comparison of simulated patient-based study with perceived role of involvement.

This study evaluated the level of community pharmacy professionals' (CPPs) actual practices and contrasted it with their self-reported perceived involvement in diabetes management. A self-reported cross-sectional and simulated patient (SP)-based study were employed at community drug retail outlets (CDROs) in Northwest Ethiopia. SP-case scenarios were used to examine the actual practices of CPPs in diabetes management and were compared with self-reported perceived involvement. The data were managed and analysed using SPSS version 26. About 184 participants in the self-reported and 100 CPPs' actual practices using three SP visits were included. The overall actual practice (17.8%) was found to be significantly different compared with the perceived level of involvement (73.5%) (p-value <0.05). About 94.3% of CPPs dispensed requested medications to the SP without a prescription. Despite most participants being perceived to be involved, more than 76% of CPPs did not counsel the SP for lifestyle modifications, avoiding risky behaviours, adherence to treatment, routine blood glucose checkups, diabetic foot care techniques, or consultation with physicians for further management. A significant discrepancy between actual practices and perceived CPPs' involvement in the management of diabetes was observed. The findings may suggest that exploring possible gaps may be crucial.

Patient perspectives on the vital primary care role of community pharmacists in Nova Scotia, Canada: qualitative findings from the PUPPY Study.

Community pharmacists play an important role in primary care access and delivery for all patients, including patients with a family physician or nurse practitioner ("attached") and patients without a family physician or nurse practitioner ("unattached"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacists were accessible care providers for unattached patients and patients who had difficulty accessing their usual primary care providers ("semi-attached"). Before and during the pandemic, pharmacist services expanded in several Canadian provinces. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patient experiences receiving care from community pharmacists, and their perspectives on the scope of practice of community pharmacists. Fifteen patients in Nova Scotia, Canada, were interviewed. Participant narratives pertaining to pharmacist care were analyzed thematically. Attached, "semi-attached," and unattached patients valued community pharmacists as a cornerstone of care and sought pharmacists for a variety of health services, including triaging and system navigation. Patients spoke positively about expanding the scope of practice for community pharmacists, and better optimization of pharmacists in primary care. System decision-makers should consider the positive role community pharmacists can play in achieving primary care across the Quintuple Aim (population health, patient and provider experiences, reducing costs, and supporting equity in health).

Knowledge and practice of community pharmacists regarding the safety of drugs during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from a developing country

BackgroundDrug use during pregnancy can cause unfavorable fetal and maternal outcomes. Information sharing is essential for pharmacists’ role within intricate, modern healthcare systems. Community pharmacists (CPs) have demonstrated unsatisfactory knowledge across various pharmacological domains in most developing countries. This study aimed to explore the knowledge and practices of CPs regarding medications and herb safety during pregnancy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a developing country using a self-administered questionnaire. A sample of CPs working in the northern governorates of the West Bank was selected by convenience sampling. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, practices and knowledge. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the data.ResultsA total of 207 questionnaires were completed. Most respondents had only a bachelor’s degree (89.9%) but did not participate in continuous professional development (CPD) (71.0%). Almost one-third of the CP workload involved dispensing drugs to pregnant women. The majority of the participants reported that they inquire about pregnancy status (59.9%), refer to scientific sources (82.6%), and contact a prescribing physician (51.2%) in cases of uncertainty. A higher knowledge score was associated with receiving a master’s degree and CPD programs. Most CPs identified folic acid, paracetamol and amoxicillin as safe, while tetracycline, isotretinoin, enalapril, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen were among the drugs mostly reported as unsafe. Castor oil, Senna, St. John’s wort and ginseng were the most frequently reported herbs as unsafe.ConclusionsDespite the gaps in knowledge about herb pharmacology, CPs demonstrated acceptable knowledge and practice regarding drug safety during pregnancy. CPD is recommended for addressing gaps in knowledge and practice. Future research evaluating knowledge and practice may benefit from developing a specific, accurate, validated instrument.

Collaborative medication reviews in community pharmacies-Drug-related problems and the process of communicating them with physicians: A retrospective validation study.

Cooperation between practicing community pharmacists (PPs) and primary care physicians has traditionally been limited, with scarce communication on therapeutic issues. The aim of this study was to assess how PPs communicate in writing with physicians regarding (1) the clinically relevant problems they have identified in patients' medications and (2) recommendations to solve the problems to identify development needs in the communication process. This retrospective validation study assessed medication reviews conducted by PPs in collaboration with home care nurses, practice nurses, and physicians for 46 older (≥65 years) home care clients in the Municipality of Lohja, Finland. The therapeutic and communicative appropriateness of clinically relevant drug-related problems (DRPs) identified by PPs and reported in writing to physicians was blindly evaluated by (1) an accredited pharmacist (AP) and (2) two physicians specialized in geriatric pharmacotherapy. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to compare the assessments. The PPs (n = 13) identified 189 DRPs and made 4.1 recommendations per patient in 46 written reports to physicians. Of the PPs' written recommendations for medication changes, 46% (155/334) were the same as those by the AP. The two specialized physicians evaluated 69% and 67% of PPs' recommendations to be clinically relevant. The way the DRPs and recommendations to solve them were communicated was evaluated as appropriate in 38% and 38%, respectively, of the case reports written by the PPs. The PPs were able identify DRPs quite well, particularly inappropriate medication use, according to current care guidelines and formularies. It was found that improvement was needed in the communication of DRPs in written reports with physicians. Interprofessional learning by working in care teams would be suitable for strengthening patient care-oriented competencies.

Exploring the knowledge, perception, and practice of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia toward pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting. A nationwide survey

One of the significant worldwide health problems associated with pharmacovigilance is the under-reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Reporting suspected ADRs is essential to ensure patient safety, medicine safety, and healthcare quality. The new policy in Saudi Arabia emphasizes pharmacists taking a new clinical role, which may facilitate and improve the documentation of ADRs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and perception of community pharmacists towards the ADRs and their reporting practice in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a structured self-administered questionnaire was administered to community pharmacists working in Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify the association between perceptions and ADR reporting practices. A P value < of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A response rate of 43% (n = 163) was achieved, of whom 55.2% demonstrated knowledge of PV. Only 16% of community pharmacists were aware of the responsible center for monitoring and collecting ADRs in Saudi Arabia. The key facilitator was offering incentives to pharmacists, and the lack of time was found to be a key barrier among reporter community pharmacists. Positive attitudes toward pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting were expressed by community pharmacists. The findings of this study emphasize the further need for education and training programs and simplifying the ADR reporting process used in Saudi Arabia to enhance the reporting practice.

Pharmaceutical care for visually impaired patients: a qualitative study of community pharmacists' needs and professional experience.

Visual impairment is a disability that can have a significant impact on the ability to take medication safely. As a result, pharmacists must adjust their practice toprovidetargeted and adapted support for this type of patient. The aims of the present study were (1) to illustrate the usual clinical practice of community pharmacists to support the optimisation of medication use in visually impaired patients, and (2) to identify solutions to improve pharmaceutical care for visually impaired patients. Semi-structured interviews with 18 French-speaking community pharmacists were conducted via videoconference in Belgium. Participants were recruited on a voluntary basis and through a snowball method. An interview guide was developed based on literature review. Interviews were carried out until theoretical saturation of the data, recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Data were organised by NVivo Software. Four themes were identified: community pharmacists' training, identification of visually impaired patients by the pharmacist, communication with visually impaired patients and their proxies, and provision of appropriate pharmaceutical care. Participants stated that they had not received any training regarding visual impairment. They described that they did not always know how to recognise visually impaired patients and that communication was often difficult. This qualitative study hashighlighted a lack of knowledge and skills among community pharmacists regarding visual impairment. One possible solution could be to develop recommendations and tools to improve the care of these patients.

Knowledge, Perception, and Practices on the Labelling of Dispensed Medicine among Community Pharmacists and General Practitioners in the State of Sarawak, Malaysia.

The labelling of dispensed medicines (LDM) ensures that optimum therapeutic treatment levels are achieved, and medication errors are prevented. In Malaysia, LDM is enforced under the Poisons Act 1952. To explore the knowledge, perception, and practices of community pharmacists (CP) and general practitioners (GP) on LDM. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 until March 2020 among CP and GP practising in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sample sizes were 90 and 150 for CP and GP, respectively. Proportionate stratified random sampling was employed. A self-administered structured questionnaire pre-tested and pilot-tested was used to explore knowledge and perception. Practices were assessed by having participants prepare dispensed medicine labels (DML) using simulated prescriptions. 250 participants; 96 CP and 154 GP participated. While most of them perceived that they knew the requirements of LDM (n = 244; 97.6%), their median knowledge score was poor (57.1%). The mean knowledge score of CP (62.0%) was significantly higher (P = 0.002) than GP (51.0%). The majority of participants perceived that LDM is important (n = 237; 94.8%) and necessary (n = 239; 95.6%) and perceived that poor compliance with the requirements would lead to medication errors (n = 243; 97.2%). Although their knowledge was poor, their median practice score (100.0%) was excellent. There was no correlation between knowledge and perception with the practice of LDM. The majority of CP and GP perceived that LDM is important. Interestingly, although their knowledge of the requirements of LDM was poor, their practices were sound.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding counselling on vitamins and dietary supplements in Malaysia: A study on complementary medicines

BackgroundThe utilization of vitamins and dietary supplements (DSs) among consumers in Malaysia has seen a notable increase. However, there is limited research available on how pharmacists in Eastern countries manage the provision of these products. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in Malaysia regarding the provision of counselling services on vitamins and DSs. The findings will inform education strategies in this area. MethodsA cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted from February to April 2022 using a validated online-based questionnaire. The survey was distributed to community pharmacists across Malaysia through social media channels. t-test and ANOVA test were used for data analysis. ResultsAmong the 260 participants, 73.5% were categorized as having average product knowledge. Key concerns included a lack of knowledge about the indications of new products and when to discontinue their use. Regarding dosing in specific patient groups, 33.5% of pharmacists only occasionally consulted references and primarily relied on product labels. Furthermore, 29% of pharmacists believed it was unnecessary to refer patients to doctors when they experienced ongoing symptoms while taking vitamins or DSs. Interestingly, 44.6% of pharmacists believed there was a correlation between the efficacy of vitamins and their price, often recommending more expensive brands despite similar content. ConclusionThere is an opportunity to enhance the knowledge of pharmacists in Malaysia regarding vitamins and DSs. Education interventions should focus on areas such as dosing for specific patient groups, when to discontinue products, understanding new products, evidence-based efficacy of products for specific conditions, and providing a framework for appropriate referral to support pharmacists in their practice.

Proficiency and Knowledge of Community Pharmacists in the Use of Liraglutide and Semaglutide as Weight Reduction Agents

Background: In recent years, the prevalence of obesity has climbed sharply. Still, only a few safe and effective medications are approved as weight-loss drugs. Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge and practice of community pharmacists in Iraq regarding the use of Liraglutide and Semaglutide as weight-loss medications. Method: A cross-sectional survey was implemented using a validated questionnaire and a convenient sample of Iraqi community pharmacists from different governorates. The questionnaire was created after conducting a literature review of the most important articles about liraglutide and semaglutide. The questionnaire consists of three sections. The first part was used to collect demographic information. The second and third parts assessed community pharmacists' knowledge and practice of the anti-diabetic weight-loss agents Liraglutide and Semaglutide, respectively. Results: A total of 225 community pharmacists participated in this survey. The mean number of successfully answered knowledge questions by all participants was 15 out of 20, indicating a good knowledge of the Iraqi community pharmacists regarding using Liraglutide and Semaglutide as weight-loss medications. The current study revealed that the mean score for the practice section is 3.97, indicating that the participating pharmacists have good practice regarding using these medications. Conclusions: Community pharmacists have demonstrated adequate knowledge about correct administration escalation, storage, adverse effects, and other aspects of using Liraglutide and Semaglutide for weight loss. There is a knowledge gap between younger and older pharmacists.

Libyan community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics

Antibiotics are prescription only medications, but their dispensing as over the counter drugs constitutes one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance threatens the life of people around the world, as indicated by world and Health Organization. Therefore, a global effort and collaboration are required to decrease and control the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists regarding dispensing of antibiotics without prescription (DAWP) in Libya. Self- administered questionnaire has been created with a cross sectional design and statistical package for social sciences(SPSS) version 27.0 was used for descriptive statistics analysis. The vast majority of respondents were female (82.2%) and (79.4%) of respondents were less than 30 years old. About 43% of community pharmacists reported that they dispense antibiotics without prescription. Feeling competent to dispense antibiotics as over the counter drug was the most common reason for antibiotic dispensing without prescription. Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and Metronidazole were the most commonly dispensed antibiotics without a prescription respectively. In summary, dispensing antibiotics without a prescription is widespread in Libya, especially When patient asks for a particular antibiotic.

Libyan community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics

Antibiotics are prescription only medications, but their dispensing as over the counter drugs constitutes one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance threatens the life of people around the world, as indicated by world and Health Organization. Therefore, a global effort and collaboration are required to decrease and control the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists regarding dispensing of antibiotics without prescription (DAWP) in Libya. Self- administered questionnaire has been created with a cross sectional design and statistical package for social sciences(SPSS) version 27.0 was used for descriptive statistics analysis. The vast majority of respondents were female (82.2%) and (79.4%) of respondents were less than 30 years old. About 43% of community pharmacists reported that they dispense antibiotics without prescription. Feeling competent to dispense antibiotics as over the counter drug was the most common reason for antibiotic dispensing without prescription. Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and Metronidazole were the most commonly dispensed antibiotics without a prescription respectively. In summary, dispensing antibiotics without a prescription is widespread in Libya, especiallyWhen patient asks for a particular antibiotic.

Knowledge and dispensing practice of community pharmacists towards antipsychotic medicines in a Nigerian metropolitan city – a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAntipsychotic drugs are prescription-only-medications which require valid prescriptions before it can be obtained from a pharmacy. On the other hand, community pharmacists in developing countries have sometimes been implicated in over-the-counter dispensing of prescription-only-medications.ObjectiveThis study investigated the accessibility of antipsychotic drugs without prescriptions from community pharmacies, and the factors responsible for the over-the-counter dispensing of antipsychotics by community pharmacists.MethodsAn exploratory cross-sectional mixed method survey design using pretested structured questionnaires among 119 community pharmacists, simulated patients in 119 community pharmacies, and one-on-one in-depth interview among eleven (11) community pharmacist-owners/superintendent pharmacists were utilized for data collection. The knowledge of the pharmacists on antipsychotics including classification, side effects, and dispensing practices were explored. Qualitative data was analyzed with thematic analysis, while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsMajority of the community pharmacists (87.4%) showed good knowledge of antipsychotics as it relates to the different classes and the side effects peculiar to each class. Antipsychotic medications were dispensed by 85 (71.4%) of community pharmacists without a prescription. One-on-one in-depth interview sessions with community pharmacist owners/superintendent pharmacists demonstrated that community pharmacists are knowledgeable about antipsychotics and their side effects. Reasons given for dispensing this class of drugs without prescription included emergencies, and knowledge of the person as being on the drugs long-term. About 4% pharmacists were adamant on dispensing only with prescription.ConclusionCommunity pharmacists in Ibadan metropolis readily dispense antipsychotics without valid prescriptions despite having an optimal knowledge about the negative implications of doing so. This could be due to weak legislation and regulation of drug laws. There is a need for more stringent regulations as well as adequate sensitization about the negative effects of inappropriate dispensing of prescription-only-medications.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists toward irritable bowel syndrome, Sudan

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting around 20% of the populations worldwide. Treatment of IBS typically focuses on managing predominant symptoms and the pathophysiology, such as the visceral hypersensitivity. This study was conducted to assess community pharmacist knowledge, attitude and practice of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Khartoum locality.A descriptive cross-sectional study was done. The study was performed among all community pharmacist working at the pharmacies in the study area. Ethical approval from the Ministry of health was first granted (NUSU2021/3-5), then approvals was obtained from each of pharmacy administration. Pharmacists that were registered by Sudan medical counsel, while pharmacy technician and other staff were excluded. Association among variables was assessed through chi-square test, all tests were considered significant when p <0.05.Most of the pharmacist were females (68%, n= 70). Fifty-eight percent (n=60) had good knowledge about IBS. Ninety-three percent (n=96) knew the common symptoms. Eighty-six percent (n=89) of the participants reported that the diagnosis of IBS was based on symptoms. Although the knowledge score was good, but their knowledge about medications and lifestyle modifications was poor. Good attitude was noticed in 55% (n= 57) of the pharmacists. Sixty-one percent (n=63) of pharmacists agree with that they need courses regarding IBS. Fifty-one percent (n= 53) of them agreed with IBS has become one of the most health problems they were involved. Also fifty-one percent (n=53) of them agree with that the symptoms of IBS never disappear. Regarding practice, 63% (n= 65) of pharmacists had good practice.Majority of the participants had good knowledge and attitude and practice about IBS. The need for continuous education was recommended by the participants.

Exploring the Experiences of Pharmacists with Drug Shortages in the UK

Abstract Introduction Drugs can become short in supply for many reasons including increased demand and reduced production1. Drug shortages have the potential to impact patients and pharmacists. A recent study reported pharmacists spending up to 11 hours per week dealing with drug shortages2. However, the overall impact of experiencing and dealing with drug shortages on pharmacists and patients has not been fully investigated, particularly within community pharmacy, an area of practice that has been struggling with drug shortages. Aim To highlight the challenges pharmacists face and the constraints within the current system when dealing with drug shortages. Methods The study was reviewed and received ethical approval. This was a survey study involving practising community pharmacists in the UK. Pharmacists were invited through social media and professional networks to complete a validated online survey during the period of September to December 2021. Survey data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results 100 responses were received from 11 regions in the UK. Eighty three percent of the respondents were experiencing drug shortages 3 or more times per week and more than 70% spent 1-3 hours per week dealing with them. The majority of the respondents (93%, n = 93) indicated that drug shortages were a problem for them and sixty one (n = 100) respondents reported that they had worsened since the start of the pandemic. In addition, sixty five (n = 100) respondents believed that drug shortages had had an impact on patient care. How the respondents dealt with prescriptions for drugs that were in shortage varied with a third (34%) responding they would contact the prescriber and suggest an alternative. The respondents suggested ways for improving the management of drug shortages including giving pharmacists more legal power to change prescriptions, increasing the number of Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) and providing early and transparent communications. Discussion/Conclusion Spending time dealing with drug shortages impacts on the pharmacists’ workloads and quality of patient care. There was a variation between how respondents indicated they dealt with drug shortages. Patients should be able to obtain their medicine(s) and pharmacists need to respond in a way that ensures delivery of person-centred care. How pharmacists deal with shortages and why they do this needs further exploration. Some respondents suggested ways to help manage drug shortages. An increase in number of SSP’s may not be the best approach as they can be inflexible and time consuming. Initiatives such as more legal powers have received attention by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) who believes an amendment in law to allow pharmacists to make minor changes to prescriptions affected by drug shortages would improve patient access to medicines and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. This comes at a time when community pharmacists are under pressure to offer services such as minor ailments, blood pressure checks and contraception. Despite the survey being undertaken over a year ago and the small sample size, drug shortages continue to be an issue that impacts community pharmacists, which requires further investigation.

A Brief Online Training to Address Pharmacists' Willingness to Dispense Buprenorphine.

The recent passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act could increase the number of patients seeking to fill buprenorphine prescriptions at community pharmacies; however, multiple barriers limit community pharmacists' ability and willingness to dispense buprenorphine. We assess whether a brief online buprenorphine training program (Buprenorphine Understanding in the Pharmacy Environment) improves community pharmacists' outcomes, including willingness to dispense buprenorphine. A convenience sample of practicing community pharmacists participated in a 30-minute buprenorphine training. The training was codeveloped with pharmacy advisors and presented solutions to common buprenorphine dispensing barriers. Participants completed a pretest and posttest that assessed their buprenorphine knowledge (5 multiple-choice items based on training content), self-efficacy to engage in various buprenorphine-related behaviors (7 items), buprenorphine attitudes (8 items), and willingness to dispense buprenorphine to 4 different types of customers. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and paired-samples t tests were used to evaluate the impact of the training on pharmacist outcomes. Of 266 individuals who accessed the pretest, 104 responses were included in the analysis (response rate, 39%). Buprenorphine Understanding in the Pharmacy Environment improved pharmacists' mean buprenorphine knowledge scores (pretest, 2.2; posttest, 3.5; P < 0.001), all 7 self-efficacy items (all P < 0.001), mean buprenorphine attitudes (pretest, 3.1; posttest, 3.4; P < 0.001), and willingness to dispense to all four types of buprenorphine customers (all P < 0.01). A brief buprenorphine training increased pharmacists' willingness to dispense buprenorphine. Although generalizability of the results may be limited by use of a convenience sample, our pharmacist-oriented training showed promising results and may be an important step in increasing availability of buprenorphine in community pharmacies.

Community pharmacists' perspectives on cardiovascular disease pharmaceutical care in the United Arab Emirates: a questionnaire survey-based analysis.

Background: Community pharmacists play an intermediary role between prescribing physicians and patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and thus are responsible for ensuring that patients receive optimal cardiovascular disease (CVD) pharmaceutical care. Methods: we used a cross-sectional design to assess the perceptions and practices of community pharmacists concerning pharmaceutical care for patients with CVD. A trained researcher visited randomly selected community pharmacies and used a structured questionnaire to conduct in-person interviews with pharmacists. The questionnaire collected demographic data and information on perceptions and practices regarding CVD pharmaceutical care. Results: Five hundred and fifty-one participants were recruited. The average participant age (mean ± SD) was 35 ± 2.7years. The average perception score regarding CVD prevention and management was 75.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 77.1%-74.2%), and the average practice score for CVD prevention and management was 87.1% (95% CI 76.5%-79.6%). Bivariate analysis revealed that gender (p = 0.001), education level (p < 0.001), pharmacy position (p = 0.004), work experience (p < 0.001), number of patients served per day (p < 0.001) and being trained on CVD prevention and management (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with perceptions about the prevention and management of CVD. Better practice scores were seen among older participants (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1-1.019), postgraduates (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.66-1.89), workers at chain pharmacies (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.11-1.39), pharmacists in charge (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.01-1.47), pharmacists with >10years of experience (OR 11.3; 95% CI 6.01-15.62), pharmacists with 6-10years of experience (OR 4.42; 95% CI 3.90-5) and pharmacists trained on CVD prevention and management (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.15-1.46). Conclusion: Pharmacy practitioners working in community pharmacies in the UAE actively engage in delivering pharmaceutical care to patients, playing a role in CVD management and prevention. However, they showed low levels of involvement in other healthcare services, specifically in screening and measuring patients' weight, glucose levels, and blood pressure, monitoring treatment responses, maintaining medical records, and reviewing medication refill histories. Activities such as educating patients, providing medication counseling, offering support for treatment adherence, and fostering collaborative relationships with other healthcare providers should be encouraged among UAE community pharmacists to ensure the provision of high-quality patient care.

SERBEST ECZACILARIN ÇÖLYAK HASTALIĞINA YÖNELİK BİLGİ, TUTUM VE UYGULAMALARININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Objective: The knowledge and attitude of pharmacists play an essential role in the patient counseling services of pharmacists. Celiac disease is one of the diseases in which patient follow-up and counseling are essential, and the number of studies dealing with the roles of pharmacists in this disease is very limited. This study aims to fill this gap and contribute to public health by evaluating community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices for celiac disease. Material and Method: Based on the literature, a measurement tool including the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists for celiac disease has been developed. The measurement tool was applied online to community pharmacists in Türkiye in 2021. The obtained data were subjected to explanatory factor analysis (EFA). Result and Discussion: The number of pharmacists participating in this study is 408. A four-factor structure was obtained: knowledge of celiac disease, attitude towards celiac disease, counseling practices for celiac patients, and professional development practices. The Cronbach's alpha values of the factors were calculated between 0.794 and 0.935, which shows high reliability. These factors explained 70.343% of the total variance. The community pharmacists had positive attitudes toward counseling for celiac disease. Still, there were some deficiencies in terms of knowledge and practice. It is thought that the knowledge and awareness of pharmacists on celiac diseases can be increased by including issues related to celiac disease in both undergraduate education and vocational training programs.

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS TOWARDS ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AT YEKA SUB CITY, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 2023.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern that poses significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Community pharmacists play a crucial role in the appropriate use of antibiotics and the prevention of AMR. However, there is limited research focusing on the specific knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists towards AMR in Yeka Subcity, Ethiopia. Understanding their current understanding and practices can provide valuable insights for targeted interventions. Objective: The main objective of this research is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial resistance in Yeka Subcity. The study aims to evaluate their understanding of AMR, their attitudes towards responsible antibiotic use, and their current practices in dispensing and counseling on antibiotics. Methods: The study will employ a cross-sectional design, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A structured questionnaire will be developed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists towards AMR. The questionnaire will be administered to a sample of community pharmacists practicing in Yeka Subcity. In-depth interviews will also be conducted with a subset of participants to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives. The data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques and thematic analysis for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Workplan: The research will be conducted over a period of three-months. The workplan includes the following key activities: literature review, research proposal development, ethical approval, data collection tool development, recruitment and training of research assistants, data collection (questionnaire administration and interviews), data analysis, report writing, and dissemination of findings.