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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine

Authors: Farah Naja, Nada Abbas, Sharfa Khaleel, Falak Zeb, Tareq A. H. Osaili, Reyad Shaker Obaid, MoezAlIslam Faris, Hadia Radwan, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Haydar Hassan, Mona Hashim, Hamzah AlZubaidi

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

While community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine, their potential role remains largely untapped. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine products among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates and explore the correlates of knowledge in the study sample.

Methods

Using a stratified random sampling frame, a national survey of community pharmacists was conducted in the United Arab Emirates. In a face-to-face interaction, participants completed a multi-component questionnaire consisting of four sections: sociodemographic and general characteristics; knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine products and usage; attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine. Based on participants’ answers, scores were calculated with higher scores indicating more positive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Results

373 community pharmacists participated in the study (response rate: 83%). For the knowledge questions, more than 50% of community pharmacists correctly answered the functions of complementary and alternative medicine, however lower percentages were noted for the side effects and drug interactions questions. Most community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, except for particular aspects such as efficacy, where 40% agreed that complementary and alternative medicine is only effective in treating minor complaints. As for practices, while more than 70% of participants counseled patients on complementary and alternative medicine use, only 47% reported the toxic effects when encountered. Multiple linear regressions showed that community pharmacists working in independent pharmacies, those with fewer years of experience, and those who did not receive complementary and alternative medicine education during their academic degree had lower knowledge scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings of this study showed that community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates have good knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine functions and generally positive attitudes and practices, with few gaps identified in each. Together, these findings provide critical evidence for the development of targeted interventions to promote the role of community pharmacists towards safe and effective complementary and alternative medicine use in the country.
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Metadata
Title
Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine
Authors
Farah Naja
Nada Abbas
Sharfa Khaleel
Falak Zeb
Tareq A. H. Osaili
Reyad Shaker Obaid
MoezAlIslam Faris
Hadia Radwan
Leila Cheikh Ismail
Haydar Hassan
Mona Hashim
Hamzah AlZubaidi
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04391-8

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