Polypharmacy patients’ awareness of drug-related problems and their perceptions towards community pharmacists: a cross-sectional study in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Polypharmacy is a major cause of preventable drug-related problems (DRPs), placing a significant burden on patients. Community pharmacists are positioned to mitigate these risks, but this requires effective patient engagement. However, the perspectives of polypharmacy patients themselves—specifically their DRP awareness and views on the pharmacist’s role—remain largely unexamined in Saudi Arabia. To assess polypharmacy patients’ awareness of DRPs and their perceptions and attitudes toward the community pharmacist’s role in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted (July–September 2024) among 409 polypharmacy patients in Jazan Province, recruited via convenience sampling. Data were collected using an instrument validated by pharmacy practice experts and demonstrating excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.81–0.91). General DRP awareness was high (81.9%), yet specific knowledge was poor, with most failing to recognize drug interactions (83.1%) or non-compliance (75.3%) as DRPs. This awareness deficit was significantly associated with lower educational attainment (p < 0.001), older age (p < 0.001), and rural residence (p = 0.02). Critically, patients reported negative perceptions, with a majority disagreeing that pharmacists have the appropriate training (65.8%) or qualifications (74.6%). Higher awareness scores showed a significant positive correlation with more positive perception ( r = 0.37, p < 0.01) and attitude scores ( r = 0.40, p < 0.01). Our findings suggest a ‘cycle of disengagement’, where low patient DRP awareness is associated with poor perceptions and a lack of confidence in community pharmacists. This is further linked to patient-reported experiences of suboptimal care. A dual strategy combining targeted patient education with systemic improvements in pharmaceutical care may be necessary to rebuild the patient-pharmacist relationship and enhance medication safety. This study found that polypharmacy patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, have significant deficits in their specific awareness of drug-related problems (DRPs), which, combined with experiences of suboptimal care, fosters negative perceptions and a lack of confidence in community pharmacists. These findings reveal a cycle of disengagement, implying a need for a dual strategy that pairs targeted patient education on medication risks with systemic improvements in pharmaceutical care to rebuild trust and enhance medication safety.