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BFSA-Volume 46-Issue 1 - Page 647-657
BFSA-Volume 46-Issue 1 - Page 647-657
ISO ISO
Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Assiut University
Accreditated Faculty Administration
Council of The National Authority for
Quality Assurance of Education and
Website: http://bpsa.journals.ekb.eg/
Accreditation No. (102) in 27/9/2011
9001 : 2015 and renewed in 19/7/2017 No. 168 9001 : 2008 e-mail: bullpharm@aun.edu.eg
Background: Analgesics are frequently used to manage pain, and community pharmacists
play a crucial role in prescribing these medications. However, inappropriate prescribing
patterns and inadequate pharmacological knowledge of analgesics among pharmacists can
lead to adverse health outcomes and increase healthcare costs. Aim: Eevaluating the
prescribing patterns and pharmacological knowledge of analgesics among community
pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. The study also seeks to identify any potential areas of deficiency
in the knowledge or practices of community pharmacists regarding the safe and effective use of
analgesics. Ultimately, to enhance the quality of care provided to patients who require
analgesic therapy, by addressing any gaps in the knowledge or practices of community
pharmacists. Method: In November 2022, a study was conducted in Jeddah to investigate the
prescribing skills and level of pharmacological knowledge of analgesics among community
pharmacists. The research design used for this study was cross-sectional. Results: One hundred
thirty fours community pharmacists responded to the survey. Most participants were male, 31
years old or above, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy. Most of the community pharmacists
were aware of the correct use, side effects or complications, contraindications, safe dosage, and
reaction mechanism of analgesics. The community pharmacists obtained a favorable mean
knowledge score (> 50%) of analgesic drugs. Conclusion: Community pharmacists reported
correct prescribing patterns and adequate pharmacological knowledge. However, when
pharmacists have little community experience their analgesic drug knowledge tends to be
weaker, but it becomes stronger after 5 years.
Keywords: Pharmacist; pharmacology; practice; analgesics; knowledge
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The survey The safest dose of ibuprofen is 800
The survey comprised two main parts milligrams (mg) every four to six
related to community pharmacists. The first hours, as needed.
part consisted of eight questions regarding the GI upset is the most common side
prescribing patterns of analgesics while the effect of NSAIDs.
second part enquired about the Mefenamic is not used to manage
pharmacological knowledge of analgesics. It dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps).
consisted of ten questions. Other questions Diclofenac is contraindicated during
were related to the demographic characteristics pregnancy.
of community pharmacists: age, gender, years Mefenamic acid has better antipyretic
of community pharmacy experience, and activity than paracetamol.
country of academic qualification. The use of NSAIDs has been
associated with a higher probability of
Sample size and sampling procedure experiencing cardiovascular
The sample size was based on the total complications such as stroke, heart
number of pharmacists working in the private attack, atrial fibrillation, and heart
sector in Jeddah – 3,22835. The statistical failure.
program Raosoft was used to determine the The recommended daily dose of
sample size at a 90% confidence interval, and a diclofenac is 100–150mg in two or
5% margin of error; the adequate sample size three divided doses.
was calculated to be 250.
NSAIDs should not be administered
with diuretics.
Ethical considerations
The main mechanism of action of
The study adhered to ethical principles
acetaminophen is the inhibition of the
and was sanctioned by the Biomedical
enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX).
Research Ethics Committee at Umm Al-Qura
University (Registration No. in National
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Committee of Bio Ethics: HAPO-02-K-012).
All participants voluntarily participated, and Results
their information was kept confidential through In this study, the prescribing patterns and
complete anonymization. pharmacological knowledge of analgesics of
134 community pharmacists in Jeddah, Saudi
Statistical analysis Arabia, were evaluated. The response rate was
The data analysis was performed using 53.6%.
IBM SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, The participants’ sociodemographic
N.Y., USA). Simple descriptive statistics were characteristics showed that the majority of the
utilized to present the features of the study participants were male (90.3%, n = 121), aged
variables. Specifically, categorical and nominal 31 years old and above (76.1%, n = 102), held
variables were expressed as counts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (74.6%, n =
percentages, while continuous variables were 100), and obtained their academic
represented by mean and standard deviation. A qualifications overseas (64.2%, n = 86), as
scoring system was employed to measure the shown in Table 1. All were working in Jeddah
pharmacists’ level of knowledge of the city. In addition, nearly one-third had 11–15
pharmacology of analgesics, and the various years of community pharmacy experience
adverse effects associated with them. Each (32.1%, n = 43), followed by roughly one-
question’s responses were categorized as quarter with 6–10 years (24.6%, n = 33) and >
correct or incorrect, with a value of 1 and 0 15 years of experience (23.1%, n = 31).
respectively. A simple additive method was Table 2 reveals the frequencies of the
used to calculate the total score. The questions responses to each item of the attitude test
involved were the following: regarding the prescription of analgesic
Aspirin is used as an analgesic. medications. Most of the community
pharmacists: (a) prescribed analgesic drugs to
their patients (94.8%, n = 127); (b) preferred
649
Nasser M Alorfi
the oral route as the administration medium information leaflet inside the analgesic drug
(96.3%, n = 129); and (c) dispensed analgesics package prior to prescribing them (51.5%, n =
based on their advice (86.6%, n = 116). 69), and prescribed the intake duration of
Furthermore, the majority of the community analgesics only when required (50.0%, n = 67).
pharmacists reported that 40–79% of patients Finally, close to one-quarter frequently
required analgesic drugs (70.1%, n = 94). They reported the side effects as muscle pain
preferred to prescribe acetaminophen as an (20.1%, n = 27) and fever (14.2%, n = 19).
analgesic drug (66.4%, n = 89), read the
The knowledge of the pharmacology of drugs of > 50% (mean ± SD = 6.70 ± 1.4, N =
analgesics and their various adverse effects was 134, min = 3.00, max = 10.00). Approximately
then assessed (see Table 3). Most of the one-quarter of them obtained a mean analgesic
respondents answered the knowledge items drug knowledge score of 6.00 (26.9%, n = 36),
related to aspirin use correctly, such as its use 7.00 (25.4%, n = 340), or 8.00 (22.4%, n = 30).
as an analgesic, the most common side effects The association between knowledge of
of NSAIDs, the contraindications for analgesic drugs and sociodemographic
diclofenac, NSAIDS-triggered cardiovascular characteristics was then determined, as shown
complications, the non-administration of in Table 5. The results show that those with
NSAIDs along with diuretics, the safest 11–15 years’ (mean score = 7.00 ± 1.5) and >
ibuprofen intake, the antipyretic activity of 15 years’ (mean score = 6.90 ± 1.4) community
mefenamic acid, and the mechanism of action pharmacy experience had significantly better
of acetaminophen. On the other hand, nearly analgesic drug knowledge than those with only
two-thirds answered incorrectly the items 0–5 years of experience (mean score = 6.11 ±
related to the use of mefenamic, its relationship 1.1). Also, a significantly higher analgesic drug
with dysmenorrhea, and the recommended knowledge score was obtained by the
daily dose of diclofenac. participants with overseas academic
Table 4 shows the average knowledge of qualifications (mean score = 6.90 ± 1.4)
analgesic drugs among community compared to those with Saudi Arabian
pharmacists, in percentages. The results show qualifications (mean score = 6.35 ± 1.4),
that the community pharmacists obtained a suggesting that those who had studied overseas
mean knowledge score regarding analgesic obtained and retained a higher level of
knowledge of analgesic drugs.
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Table 2: Frequency of response to each item of attitude test among community pharmacist toward prescribing analgesic
medications (N = 134).
Table 3: Knowledge towards pharmacology of analgesics and various adverse effects associated with analgesic drugs of
community pharmacists (N = 134).
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Nasser M Alorfi
Table 4: Percentage and average knowledge of analgesic drugs among community pharmacists (N = 134).
Variables N Min Max Mean SD
Knowledge of Analgesic Drugs 134 3.00 10.00 6.70 1.4
Count %
Total 134 100.0
3.00 2 1.5
4.00 5 3.7
5.00 17 12.7
6.00 36 26.9
Knowledge of Analgesic Drugs
7.00 34 25.4
8.00 30 22.4
9.00 7 5.2
10.00 3 2.2
Table 5: Association between knowledge of analgesic drugs and socio-demographic characteristics (N = 134).
Knowledge of
Demographics Total p-value
Analgesic Drugs
21-25 3 8.00 ± 2.0
26-30 29 6.55 ± 1.2
Age 0.358
31-36 56 6.64 ± 1.4
Over 36 46 6.78 ± 1.4
Male 121 6.74 ± 1.4
Gender 0.122
Female 13 6.31 ± 0.9
B.Pharm 100 6.82 ± 1.4
Pharmacy academic
PharmD 19 6.42 ± 1.1 0.224
qualification
Postgraduate studies 15 6.27 ± 1.2
0-5 years 27 6.11 ± 1.1A
Years of community 6-10 years 33 6.58 ± 1.4AB
0.042b,c
pharmacy experience 11-15 years 43 7.00 ± 1.5B
More than 15 years 31 6.94 ± 1.4B
Country of Academic Saudi Arabia 48 6.35 ± 1.4
0.029a
qualification Overseas 86 6.90 ± 1.4
a-significant
using Independent t-test at <0.05 level.
b-significant
using One-Way ANOVA Test at <0.05 level.
c-Post-Hoc Test = LSD.
Analysis using the General Linear Model significantly and negatively influenced the
showed that among all the factors, the age analgesic drug knowledge of the participants
group factor of 21–25 years old most the most (B = -2.038, S.E. = 0.606, 95% CI = -
significantly and positively influenced the 3.236 – -0.839, p = 0.001), followed by having
analgesic drug knowledge of the participants 6–10 years’ community pharmacy experience
(B = 2.748, S.E. = 0.889, 95% CI = 0.988 – (B = -1.253, S.E. = 0.511, 95% CI = -2.265 – -
4.507, p = 0.002), suggesting that the analgesic 0.241, p = 0.016). This suggests that when
drug knowledge of the pharmacist tends to be pharmacists have little community experience
stronger between the ages of 21 and 25 years. their analgesic drug knowledge tends to be
On the other hand, the factor of having 0–5 weaker, but it becomes stronger after 5 years.
years’ community pharmacy experience
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Table 6: Predictors of knowledge of analgesic drugs among community pharmacists.
Dependent Variable: Knowledge of Analgesic Drugs
95% C.I.
Parameter B S.E. Lower Upper p-value
Bound Bound
Intercept 7.336 0.684 5.982 8.691 <0.001a
Age=21-25 2.748 0.889 0.988 4.507 0.002a
Age=26-30 1.358 0.514 0.340 2.376 0.009a
Age=31-36 0.651 0.396 -0.133 1.435 0.103
Gender=Male -0.308 0.484 -1.267 0.651 0.527
Pharmacy academic
0.065 0.393 -0.713 0.844 0.868
qualification=B.Pharm
Pharmacy academic
0.197 0.506 -0.805 1.199 0.697
qualification=PharmD
Years of community pharmacy
-2.038 0.606 -3.236 -0.839 0.001a
experience=0-5 years
Years of community pharmacy
-1.253 0.511 -2.265 -0.241 0.016a
experience=6-10 years
Years of community pharmacy
-0.415 0.399 -1.206 0.375 0.300
experience=11-15 years
Country of Academic
-0.584 0.265 -1.108 -0.060 0.029
qualification=Saudi Arabia
a
-significant using General Linear Model at <0.05 level.
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Nasser M Alorfi
654
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Bull. Pharm. Sci., Assiut University, Vol. 46, Issue 1, 2023, pp. 647-657.
قسم علم األدوية والسموم ،كلية الصيدلة ،جامعة أم القرى ،مكة املكرمة ،اململكة العربية السعودية
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