The Effect of Patient-Centeredness and Competence on the Provision of OTC Medication Information: The Role of Saudi Community Pharmacist

Objectives: This study aimed to discover the Saudi community pharmacist's contribution to the transmission of prescription information by analyzing the relationship between two variables: the pharmacist's patient-centeredness and competence. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2024. Using a 14-item self-report questionnaire that had been previously tested and validated Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Convenience sampling method of 400 respondents was targeted; 233 valid questionnaires were returned, representing an effective response rate of 58.2%. To test the study’s hypotheses, path analysis with structural equation modeling (Amos 24) was applied. Regarding the 233 pharmacists in the study, the Chi-square test for the model fit hypothesis showed statistically significant results: χ (74) = 145.2, P < 0.001). The model accurately represented the data, as evidenced in the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value of 0.027, PCI. The latent variables involved in the model were immediately evident to be both positively and strongly correlated. The associations among the latent as well as observable variables were all statistically significant. The model fit will be substantially and adversely affected by the removal of any latent variable. In the SEM, PAT was the main independent variable. PAT applied a significant direct positive influence on INF. (β = 0.88, P = 0.002). PAT demonstrated a significant direct impact on COM. (β = 0.93, P = 0.001), PAT exerted a substantial indirect influence on COM through the mediation by INF. The study reveals that pharmacists with patient-centered attitudes are more effective in delivering essential pharmacological information, especially in terms of over-the-counter medications, highlighting the critical role of Saudi community pharmacists in providing this type of medication.