Community pharmacy-based survey on pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and performance regarding dietary supplements: evidence from south of Iran

Background: Pharmacists can help patients to make informed and safe choices of dietary supplements. Aims and Objectives: According to the importance of pharmacists’ knowledge about dietary supplements and the effect of this knowledge on their attitude and performance, this study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude, and performance (KAP) of pharmacists toward these supplements. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by a descriptive-analytical approach in Shiraz, the largest metropolis in south of Iran, in 2015. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting 33 questions of KAP assessment that its validity and reliability were approved by a previous study. Data were analyzed using One-sample t-test, independent t-test, One-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The results showed that the average of the attitude score had a significant difference between male and female pharmacists (P < 0.05) but there were no significant relationships between other demographic characteristics and the mean of KAP analysis. Other findings demonstrated a significant relationship between KAP of the pharmacists toward supplements. The relationship between knowledge and performance was stronger than the relationship between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.47). Conclusions: Our results implied that pharmacists with higher knowledge have a better attitude and performance toward the dietary supplements, so it is recommended to redesign the training courses for pharmacists at the top task of policymakers and administrators of health and pharmaceutical system of the country