Evaluating Community Pharmacists' Dyspepsia Knowledge: A Crosssectional Study in Tehran, Iran

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Dyspepsia is a prevalent condition in Iran, leading many to self-medicate.
• Community pharmacists are key sources of health advice for common ailments like dyspepsia.
• Understanding pharmacists' knowledge is vital for improving public health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of dyspepsia-related knowledge among community pharmacists in Iran.
• To identify potential correlations between pharmacists' demographic/practice characteristics and their dyspepsia knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 community pharmacists in Tehran, Iran.
• Data collected via a validated and reliable survey questionnaire assessing dyspepsia knowledge.
• Analysis of demographic information and its relationship with knowledge scores.

Main Results:

• The average knowledge score among pharmacists was 9.32 out of 17, indicating knowledge gaps.
• A significant negative correlation was found between knowledge levels and participants' age (p=0.002).
• Years of experience also showed a significant negative relationship with dyspepsia knowledge (p=0.033).

Conclusions:

• Iranian pharmacists' mean knowledge of dyspepsia is suboptimal, scoring just over 50% on average.
• Enhancing pharmacists' understanding of dyspepsia can elevate the quality of patient services.
• Targeted educational interventions are recommended to address knowledge deficits and improve care for this common condition.