Knowledge and Practice of Community Pharmacists on Amlodipine Use in Karary Locality: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Amlodipine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for treating hypertension. Community pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring patients adhere to their treatment regimens and in counseling them regarding the appropriate dosage and expected side effects of Amlodipine. This study investigated the knowledge and practices of community pharmacists concerning Amlodipine's indications, dosage, side effects, combinations, and drug interactions in the Karary locality. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a convenient sample of 163 pharmacists working in community pharmacies in the Karary locality. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were represented using frequencies and percentages, and Fisher's Exact Test was applied to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. Results: The study involved 163 community pharmacists, of whom 72.4% were female. The age distribution showed that 47.9% were between 20-25 years, and 38.7% were 26-30 years. The vast majority (85.3%) held a bachelor's degree. Most (79.8%) had 1-5 years of practice experience, and more than half (58.9%) worked 7-10 hours per day. The study found that 55.2% had good knowledge of Amlodipine, while 44.8% had poor knowledge. Statistically, there was no significant association between knowledge and demographic data. In terms of practice, 54% exhibited good practices, while 46% were poor. The only significant association identified was between the use of handbooks or software programs and practice. Approximately 42.3% of participants used leaflets as a source of information to check Amlodipine side effects, compared to 28.8% who used books and 27.6% who referred to formularies and guidelines. Conclusion: The study revealed that over half of community pharmacists demonstrated good knowledge and practice scores concerning Amlodipine’s indications, dosage, side effects, combinations, and drug interactions. Despite this, notable gaps in practice were identified, indicating a potential need for targeted training programs, and highlight the importance of enhancing educational efforts to improve pharmacists' competence in managing Amlodipine therapy effectively.