Community pharmacy staff preparedness and challenges in counseling cancer patients and survivors: a study from Saudi Arabia

Community pharmacists are increasingly involved in the management of chronic diseases, including cancer care, due to their accessibility and frequent patient interactions. However, their role in counseling cancer patients and survivors remains underexplored in Saudi Arabia. This topic holds particular importance within Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation under Vision 2030, which emphasizes decentralized, preventive, and patient-centered services. This study aimed to evaluate the preparedness, attitudes, perceived barriers, and training needs of community pharmacy staff in Saudi Arabia regarding the counseling of cancer patients and survivors, with the broader goal of informing national strategies aligned with Vision 2030. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 309 community pharmacists and technicians across five Saudi regions (Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern). Data on preparedness, attitudes, barriers, and training needs were collected using a structured questionnaire developed and validated through expert review and pilot testing, adapted from previous studies on pharmacists’ roles in cancer care and health promotion. The survey link was distributed digitally through professional networks, pharmacy associations, and regional pharmacy managers. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple regression analyses were performed. Participants showed generally positive attitudes and moderate preparedness to counsel cancer patients, with a mean preparedness score of 3.7 ± 0.4. Key barriers included lack of formal training (74.1%), time constraints (69.9%), and insufficient access to guidelines (63.7%). Training needs were high across all domains, particularly in pharmacotherapy (70.6%) and nutrition (70.6%). No significant demographic differences were observed in preparedness, attitudes, or training needs (all p > 0.05). Community pharmacy staff in Saudi Arabia demonstrate willingness to support cancer patients but face structural and educational barriers. Nationwide standardized training and improved interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to optimize their role in oncology care and survivorship support. Future studies should focus on developing and evaluating oncology-specific training programs for community pharmacists to strengthen cancer care delivery in the community.