Perceptions and practices of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial stewardship in the state of Selangor, Malaysia

Khan, Muhammad Umair and Ahmad Hassali, Mohamed Azmi and Ahmad, Akram and Elkalmi, Ramadan Mohamed Mahmod and Razi Zaidi, Syed Tabish and Dhingra, Sameer (2016) Perceptions and practices of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial stewardship in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. PLOS ONE, 11 (2). e0149623-1-e0149623-10. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Background Increasing antimicrobial resistance is one of the pressing concerns globally. Injudicious use of antibiotics is one of the modifiable factors responsible for antimicrobial resistance. Given the widespread use of antimicrobials in community settings, pharmacists have an important role in ensuring appropriate use of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to assess the perception and self-reported practices of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial stewardship. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists between March–April, 2015, using a self-administered, pre-tested questionnaire in the State of Selangor, Malaysia. A simple random sampling approach was used to select pharmacy sites. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyse the data. Results A total of 188 pharmacists responded to the survey, giving a response rate of 83.5%. The majority of participants (n = 182, 96.8%) believed that antimicrobial stewardship program helps healthcare professionals to improve the quality of patient care. However, more than half of pharmacists were neutral in their opinion about the incorporation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in community pharmacies (n = 102, 54.2%). Though collaboration was often done by pharmacists with other health professionals over the use of antibiotics (n = 104, 55.3%), a significant proportion of participants (n = 102, 54.2%) rarely/occasionally participate in antimicrobial awareness campaigns. Pharmacists having postgraduate qualification were more likely to held positive perceptions of, and were engaged in, antimicrobial stewardship than their non-postgraduate counterpart (p<0.05). Similarly, more experienced pharmacists (> 10 years) held positive perceptions towards antimicrobial stewardship (p<0.05). Conclusion The study highlighted some gaps in the perception and practices of community pharmacist towards antimicrobial stewardship. Development of customized interventions would be critical to bridging these gaps and improve their perception and practices towards antimicrobial stewardship.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6718/49810
Uncontrolled Keywords:	antibiotic use; infectious-diseases; resistance; penicillin
Subjects:	R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Pharmacy > Department of Pharmacy Practice
Depositing User:	Dr. RAMADAN ELKALMI
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2016 14:11
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2017 16:27
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/49810

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