Evaluating The Knowledge and Attitude of Community Pharmacists Toward Type II Diabetes in Lusaka, Zambia.

Abstract

Background: - This study is hinged on the basis that in addition to knowledge updates, the attitudes of health care professionals toward current concepts about diabetes care are even more critical. The core philosophy of modern diabetes care puts emphasis on patient autonomy and optimal utilization of health care professionals’ different specialties. This study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of community pharmacists toward diabetes care.

Materials/Methods: - Eighty-four conveniently selected community pharmacists were surveyed by the Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) and Diabetes Attitude Survey (DAS) questionnaires. The Diabetes Knowledge Test evaluated the pharmacists’ diabetes knowledge based on a validated 23 item questionnaire, the Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test (MDKT). The Attitude Survey involved the Likert scale to determine the community pharmacist’s perceptions about the seriousness of type II diabetes, psychological impact of the disease, patient autonomy, need for special training in diabetes and finally the value of tight glucose control in type II diabetes.

Results: - The results showed the mean Diabetes Knowledge Test’s overall score being 13.77/23(59.86%). General diabetes information score was 8.96/15(59.3%) and for Insulin Therapy-specific questions was 4.84/8(60.5%). The mean Attitude Survey’s overall score on the Likert scale was 3.04. Amongst the subscales of the Attitude Survey, the score on the need for special training was the highest (3.28) and the score on the subscale for patient autonomy was the least (2.88). This in general showed an unacceptable level of knowledge and a bias of attitude towards neutral (neither positive nor negative). There was no association between knowledge and attitude of community pharmacists involved in the study. Some statistical difference was noted in respondents’ levels of knowledge based on their differences in ethnicity (race), practice setting (other than community pharmacy) and level of education that is, in addition to the basic degree (bachelor of pharmacy).

Conclusion: - The study has revealed with consideration of all its possible limitations and strengths that the levels of knowledge and attitude of community pharmacists in Lusaka are unacceptable. The attitude of community pharmacists equally leaves much to be desired as it displayed a lot of indecision with its tendency toward the neutral, meaning that the patient’s expected desirable outcome could not have a guarantee for optimisation as far as pharmaceutical care towards type II diabetes is concerned.