PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gharaibeh, Lobna
AU  - Alameri, Mariam Ahmad
AU  - AL-Hawamdeh, Mai I
AU  - Daoud, Enas
AU  - Atwan, Randa
AU  - Lafi, Zainab
AU  - Zakaraya, Zainab Zaki
TI  - Practices and knowledge of community pharmacists towards the use of proton pump inhibitors: a cross-sectional study in Jordan
AID  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085589
DP  - 2025 Feb 01
TA  - BMJ Open
PG  - e085589
VI  - 15
IP  - 2
4099  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e085589.short
4100  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e085589.full
SO  - BMJ Open2025 Feb 01; 15
AB  - Objectives The widespread use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) raised concerns on the safety of long-term use of these drugs. Community pharmacists have great responsibility of educating patients on these drugs which requires having adequate knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess the practices and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding PPIs.Design This was a cross-sectional study conducted by filling in a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed after a comprehensive literature review and assessed knowledge and practices.Settings Community pharmacists with at least 1 year of experience working in a community pharmacy were enrolled in the study.Participants Community pharmacists with at least 1 year of experience working in a community pharmacy were enrolled in the study.Primary outcome measures The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists towards PPIs dispensing.Results A total of 459 community pharmacists were approached for participation in the study, 451 (98.3%) community pharmacists agreed to be enrolled. The most dispensed PPIs in Jordan were lansoprazole and the most commonly treated medical condition with PPIs was gastric ulcer. PPIs were dispensed by the pharmacists very frequently and one-fourth of the participants did not review instructions with patients to ensure their proper use of PPIs. Participants had an average knowledge of 6.1±1.7 (the highest knowledge score is 12). More than one-third of participants (180, 39.9%) had inadequate knowledge (a score of less than 6). Being a PharmD graduate was the only significant factor that predicted adequate knowledge in the logistic regression model, with an adjusted OR of 5.671, p=0.002.Conclusion To provide adequate pharmaceutical care services, community pharmacists must possess appropriate knowledge on different aspects of PPIs concerning administration, efficacy and long-term and short-term side effects.Data are available on reasonable request. Data can be shared through the corresponding author on reasonable request.