Evaluation of Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Good Pharmacy Practice in Iran.

• Main Authors: Somayeh Hanafi, Farshad Poormalek, Hassan Torkamandi, Mirhamed Hajimiri, Meysam Esmaeili, SeyedHamid Khooie, Kheirollah Gholami, Alireza Hayatshahi, Mohammadreza Javadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD) 2015-10-01
• Series: Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
• Subjects: Pharmacy; Knowledge; Attitude
• Online Access: https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/5

Background: The principles of pharmaceutical care are embedded in the concept of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP). GPP is poorly applied in community pharmacies not only in Asian countries, but even in United States and Europe. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of the community pharmacists in Iran, regarding GPP. Methods: A total of 794 pharmacists were evaluated with a reliable and validated KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) questionnaire regarding GPP in September 2008. Results: The most important finding in the present study was the pharmacists’ low knowledge (Mean= 13.42) and practice (Mean= 29.85) level about GPP, while their attitude towards this subject was at a high level (Mean= 74.83). Increase in their knowledge of good pharmacy practice aligned with an increase in their attitudes towards this issue. Also increase in our pharmacists’ knowledge and attitude aligned with an increase in quality of their practice. Conclusion: The  current  practice  of  Iranian  community  pharmacists  needs  further improvement. National pharmaceutical organizations should organize educational programs for the community pharmacists to equip them for their main role in communitypractice: promoting rational drug use.