Evaluating monkeypox knowledge among Jordanian pharmacists and pharmacy students: bridging the knowledge gap

Background : The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency. The involvement of healthcare providers, such as pharmacists, plays a crucial role in disease control. Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge of monkeypox among Jordanian pharmacists and pharmacy students, as well as their ability to diagnose and manage monkeypox cases. The survey was developed based on an extensive literature review, assessed for face and content validity, and pilot tested. It was divided into three sections addressing demographics, knowledge, and the ability to diagnose and manage monkeypox cases. Results : The mean age of the study participants (n = 586) was 24.94 years (SD = 6.93). The primary information source about monkeypox was published research. The total knowledge scores (TK-score) ranged from −5 to 17, with a median of 6 (IQR: 3.0–9.0), while the symptoms knowledge scores (SK-score) ranged from −5 to 9, with a median of 2 (IQR: 1.0–4.0). A significant difference in TK-score was observed between males and females (p-value = 0.003), with a median TK-score of 5.0 for males (IQR: 3.0–8.0) and 6.0 for females (IQR: 4.0–9.0). Most participants were not confident in their ability to diagnose (82.9%) or manage (79.9%) monkeypox cases. Conclusion : Study participants demonstrated moderate knowledge concerning monkeypox. However, some items revealed areas for improvement, such as understanding transmission modes and prevention strategies. The findings also revealed low confidence levels in diagnosing and managing monkeypox. The moderate knowledge, coupled with low confidence, highlights the need for educational intervention.