Assessment of Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Over-the-Counter Medication Consultations in Karaj, Iran

Background: One of the essential responsibilities of pharmacists is to provide information and advice regarding over-the-counter (OTC) medications. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of community pharmacists in Karaj, Iran, concerning OTC medications. Method: Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises four sections: Demographic information (13 questions), and questions on knowledge (6 questions), attitudes (7 questions), and practices (3 questions) of community pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical consulting services for OTC medications. Results: Among the 116 pharmacists who participated in this study, 59.5% were women and 40.5% were men (mean age = 41.4 years). The levels of knowledge and practice among the participants were suboptimal, as only 21 pharmacists (18.1%) achieved satisfactory scores in knowledge, and only 9 pharmacists (7.8%) demonstrated satisfactory practices. Additionally, 71 pharmacists (61.2%) received moderate scores in attitudes. A significant correlation was found between the level of knowledge and participation in training courses on OTC medications. The results also demonstrated that younger pharmacists exhibited better knowledge. Conclusion: The results revealed that only a small proportion of pharmacists demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and performance regarding OTC medications. Additionally, the present study highlighted a decline in pharmacists' knowledge levels as they transitioned away from the academic environment, underscoring the necessity for improved post-graduate training programs.