Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Covid-19 Among Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study in Makkah Download PDF

We investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among community pharmacists to evaluate their current readiness and awareness levels. A validated, cross-sectional, self-administered, online questionnaire containing different sections was disseminated. The questionnaire was utilized to investigate potential factors associated with good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19. The study period was one-month and the study population was a random sample of 437 licensed community pharmacists from different areas of the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Of the 437 participants, 92.3% demonstrated good knowledge, 75.8% expressed optimism and a positive attitude, and 86.7% exhibited good practice toward COVID-19. These results reflect the considerable efforts made by the Saudi government and other world health authorities to elevate awareness and good practices among healthcare providers. Approximately 94% of the participants strongly acknowledged their crucial role in the management and promotion of precautionary measures against COVID-19. Good knowledge and work experience were major determinants of the practice of community pharmacists. We recommend further education, awareness, and training programs for healthcare providers to address any disparity that may affect their services.