Knowledge Deficits Among Community Pharmacists May Drive Antibiotic Resistance in Rural Areas: Evidence from Southern...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health threat.
• Community pharmacists play a vital role in antibiotic management.
• Understanding pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) is crucial for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess KAPs of community pharmacists in southern Jordan regarding AMR and AMS.
• To identify knowledge and practice gaps in antimicrobial stewardship.
• To examine factors influencing antimicrobial education and responsible dispensing.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 383 community pharmacists in southern Jordan.
• Data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to AMR and AMS were collected.
• Statistical analysis was used to evaluate KAPs and identify influencing variables.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists demonstrated moderate to low knowledge regarding antibiotic choice, resistance mechanisms, and stewardship principles.
• Despite positive attitudes towards AMS, significant practice gaps were observed, including dispensing antibiotics without prescriptions (38.6%) and misperceptions about antibiotics for viral infections (67.4%).
• Higher knowledge scores were associated with bachelor's degrees and urban practice, while better practice scores were linked to master's degrees and urban settings.

Conclusions:

• Community pharmacists in southern Jordan exhibit severe deficiencies in AMS knowledge and practices.
• A substantial proportion of pharmacists engage in poor practices, such as dispensing antibiotics without prescriptions.
• Targeted educational interventions are necessary to enhance AMS knowledge and practices among pharmacists in the region.