Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Community Pharmacists Regarding Warfarin Therapy in Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia

Background/Objectives: Although warfarin remains an important oral anticoagulant for selected indications, careful monitoring is required due to its narrow therapeutic index and numerous interactions. As an integral part of anticoagulant monitoring systems globally, pharmacists play an important role in preventing warfarin-associated complications. The current study assessed the warfarin-related knowledge and awareness of community pharmacists in Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional survey used convenience sampling to recruit 380 community pharmacists in Jeddah and Taif between October of 2024 and March of 2025. The questionnaire included 19 knowledge items covering warfarin’s safety (eight items), drug interactions (six items), and knowledge related to patient counseling (five items). Percentage awareness scores (PASs) were calculated for each domain, as well as the overall PAS. A predefined PAS threshold of ≥60% was used for descriptive categorization only. Unadjusted comparisons used independent-samples t-tests, with Mann–Whitney U tests performed as sensitivity analyses. Multivariable linear regression analysis with robust standard errors was conducted to examine adjusted associations with the overall PAS. Results: Mean PAS values were 65.39% for safety, 61.18% for drug interactions, 74.26% for patient counseling knowledge, and 66.40% overall. A total of 258 participants (67.9%) exceeded the predefined PAS threshold of ≥60%. Gender, age, experience, board certification, and anticoagulation training were not significantly associated with PAS values. In the multivariable analysis, the combined non-BPharm group had higher overall PAS than BPharm holders (adjusted difference: 5.99 percentage points; 95% CI: 2.54–9.44; p < 0.001). Non-Saudi nationality was also associated with higher overall PAS (adjusted difference: 4.27 percentage points; 95% CI: 0.05–8.48; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Most participants met the predefined descriptive PAS threshold, although it should be noted that this does not establish clinically adequate knowledge. Nevertheless, gaps were identified in safety, interactions, and counseling. Targeted continuing professional education is warranted, and future studies should examine counseling practices and patient outcomes.

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Journal
Pharmacy
Published
2026-10-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy14080161
Primary Topic
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
Type
article
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article

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Community Pharmacists Regarding Warfarin Therapy in Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Basilim, Futoon Althobaiti, Salha Alsaigh, Layan Alghamdi
1 links
Pharmacy
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
article

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Community Pharmacists Regarding Warfarin Therapy in Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Basilim, Futoon Althobaiti, Salha Alsaigh, Layan Alghamdi
article en

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Although warfarin remains an important oral anticoagulant for selected indications, careful monitoring is required due to its narrow therapeutic index and numerous interactions. As an integral part of anticoagulant monitoring systems globally, pharmacists play an important role in preventing warfarin-associated complications. The current study assessed the warfarin-related knowledge and awareness of community pharmacists in Jeddah and Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional survey used convenience sampling to recruit 380 community pharmacists in Jeddah and Taif between October of 2024 and March of 2025. The questionnaire included 19 knowledge items covering warfarin’s safety (eight items), drug interactions (six items), and knowledge related to patient counseling (five items). Percentage awareness scores (PASs) were calculated for each domain, as well as the overall PAS. A predefined PAS threshold of ≥60% was used for descriptive categorization only. Unadjusted comparisons used independent-samples t-tests, with Mann–Whitney U tests performed as sensitivity analyses. Multivariable linear regression analysis with robust standard errors was conducted to examine adjusted associations with the overall PAS. Results: Mean PAS values were 65.39% for safety, 61.18% for drug interactions, 74.26% for patient counseling knowledge, and 66.40% overall. A total of 258 participants (67.9%) exceeded the predefined PAS threshold of ≥60%. Gender, age, experience, board certification, and anticoagulation training were not significantly associated with PAS values. In the multivariable analysis, the combined non-BPharm group had higher overall PAS than BPharm holders (adjusted difference: 5.99 percentage points; 95% CI: 2.54–9.44; p < 0.001). Non-Saudi nationality was also associated with higher overall PAS (adjusted difference: 4.27 percentage points; 95% CI: 0.05–8.48; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Most participants met the predefined descriptive PAS threshold, although it should be noted that this does not establish clinically adequate knowledge. Nevertheless, gaps were identified in safety, interactions, and counseling. Targeted continuing professional education is warranted, and future studies should examine counseling practices and patient outcomes.

PharmacyVol. 14(8)
King Abdulaziz University (SA)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
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