International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences, 2022, 11, 3, 65-71.
DOI: 10.5530/ijpcs.2022.11.13
Published: December 2022
Type: Research Article
Authors: Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Nouf Saad Al-Saban, Maha Hussein Almadany, Randa Jaroudi,
Faisal Safouq Alanazi, and Musleh Samil Reshidi
Author(s) affiliations:
Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clin Pharm, BCPS, BCNSP, DiBA, CDE, Critical care clinical pharmacists TPN clinical pharmacist Freelancer Business Planner, Content Editor, and Data Analyst, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nouf Saad Al-Saban, Bsc. Pharm, Patient Safety Specialist, Saudi Patient Safety Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Maha Hussein Almadany, Bsc. Pharm, Health Care Quality Management Professional Diploma (HCQM), Pharmacy Quality Department, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Al Madina Al Monwarah, Saudi Arabia.
Randa Jaroudi, BSc, PharmD, TPN Clinical Pharmacist, Freelance TPN Consultation, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal Safouq Alanazi, BSc. Pharm, Pharm.D, MSc. Clin Pharm, Pharmaceutical Care Services, MOH, Hafar Albatin, Saudi Arabia.
Musleh Samil Reshidi, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clinic Pharm, Allied Medical Services, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Objectives: To explore pharmacists’ knowledge of High-risk/Alert medications in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study analyzes a cross-sectional survey discussing pharmacist knowledge of High- risk/Alert medications in Saudi Arabia. The survey consisted of respondents’ demographic information about pharmacists, the High-risk/Alert medications assessment of basic knowledge, and the resources used about High-risk or high-alert medications. The 5-point Likert response scale system was used with closed-ended questions. The survey was validated through the revision of expert reviewers and pilot testing. Various tests of reliability, including McDonald’s ω, Cronbach’s alpha, Gutmann’s λ2, and Gutmann’s λ6, were conducted. Data analysis was performed using SurveyMonkey, SPSS, Jeffery’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP), and Microsoft Excel version 16. Results: A total of 442 pharmacists responded to the questionnaire. Over one-third of responses came from the Central region (183 (40.40%)), and one-quarter from the Western region (119 (26.92%)), with statistically significant differences between the provinces (p=0.000). Male respondents outnumbered female respondents (264 (59.59%) vs. 179 (40.41%)), with statistically significant differences between all levels (p=0.000). Most respondents were in the age groups of 24-30 years (266 (59.91%)) and 31-35 years (78 (17.57%)), with statistically significant differences between all age groups (p=0.000). Most pharmacists were staff pharmacists (323 (72.75%)) and pharmacy supervisors (56 (12.61%)), with statistically significant differences between all levels (p=0.000). The average score of pharmacists’ knowledge about High- risk/Alert medications was 3.71. Pharmacists familiar with prohibited abbreviations during High-risk/Alert prescribing medications obtained the highest score (4.42). The element “heard about the concept of High-risk/Alert medications” received the second highest score (4.39), with a statistically significant difference between the responses (p<0.000). This was followed by pharmacists familiar with look-alike sound-alike High-risk/Alert medications (4.30) and those knowledgeable about narcotics and controlled medications (4.27), with statistically significant differences between the responses (p<0.000). The most used resources for High-risk/Alert or high-alert medication information were drug information resources (Lexi- comp, Micromedex, Epocrates, etc., 345 (78.05%)) and scientific literature (222 (50.23%)). These were followed by health practitioners (206 (46.61%)) and the SFDA website (157 (35.52%)). Conclusion: Pharmacists’ knowledge of High-risk/Alert medications is adequate in Saudi Arabia. However, expanded basic and advanced understanding of High-risk/Alert areas is needed to improve pharmacy performance, patient safety, and quality of life in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Alert, Drugs, High-risk, Knowledge, Medications, Pharmacist