%0 Journal Article
%T The role of community pharmacists and their perception towards antimicrobial stewardship in Baghdad, Iraq.
%A Alkadhimi A
%A Dawood OT
%A Khan AH
%J Health Care Sci
%V 3
%N 2
%D 2024 Apr
%M 38939617
暂无%R 10.1002/hcs2.92
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This study aimed to assess the role of community pharmacists and their perception toward antimicrobial stewardship, in addition to identifying factors influencing their perception and practices in community pharmacy.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacists regarding antimicrobial stewardship. Convenience sampling was used to obtain the required sample from a community pharmacy in Baghdad. In total, 381 participants have completed the survey.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The majority of the participants (85.6%) strongly agreed/agreed that "antimicrobial stewardship programs reduce the problems of antibiotic resistance"; and 85.5% of them strongly agreed/agreed that community pharmacists required adequate training on antibiotics use. In addition, high percent of community pharmacists (88.4%) strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacists have a responsibility to take a prominent role in antimicrobial stewardship programs and infection-control programs in the health system. The total score of perception was significantly influenced by older age groups, postgraduate degrees, and experience of 6-10 years (p < 0.001). This study also showed that 65.4% of pharmacists always/often advise patients to continue the full course of antimicrobials, and 64.9% of them reported always/often considering clinical and safety parameters before dispensing antibiotics. The role of pharmacists was significantly influenced by the younger age group, females, higher degree in pharmacy, experience of 3-5 years, and medical complex pharmacy (p < 0.001).<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Community pharmacists have a good perception toward antimicrobial stewardship programs, but their role is still limited. More efforts are needed to design better strategies for antimicrobial stewardship in community pharmacy.