Assessment of Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding  Over-the-Counter Medication Consultations in Karaj, Iran

Mahdi  Kalaie; Elliyeh  Ghadrdan

doi:10.18502/jpc.v13i1.18403

Mahdi Kalaie Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Elliyeh Ghadrdan Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jpc.v13i1.18403

Keywords: Pharmacist; Over-the-Counter Medications; Knowledge; Attitudes; Practices

Abstract

Background: One of the essential responsibilities of pharmacists is to provide information and advice regarding over-the-counter (OTC) medications. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of community pharmacists in Karaj, Iran, concerning OTC medications.

Method: Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises four sections: Demographic information (13 questions), and questions on knowledge (6 questions), attitudes (7 questions), and practices (3 questions) of community pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical consulting services for OTC medications.

Results: Among the 116 pharmacists who participated in this study, 59.5% were women and 40.5% were men (mean age = 41.4 years). The levels of knowledge and practice among the participants were suboptimal, as only 21 pharmacists (18.1%) achieved satisfactory scores in knowledge, and only 9 pharmacists (7.8%) demonstrated satisfactory practices. Additionally, 71 pharmacists (61.2%) received moderate scores in attitudes. A significant correlation was found between the level of knowledge and participation in training courses on OTC medications. The results also demonstrated that younger pharmacists exhibited better knowledge.

Conclusion: The results revealed that only a small proportion of pharmacists demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and performance regarding OTC medications. Additionally, the present study highlighted a decline in pharmacists' knowledge levels as they transitioned away from the academic environment, underscoring the necessity for improved post-graduate training programs.