Insights Into Metformin XR Pharmacotherapy Knowledge Among Community Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun; Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari; Moyad Shahwan; Nageeb Hassan; Sa'ed H Zyoud; Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber; Tariq Al-Qirim

doi:10.1177/11795514231203913

Insights Into Metformin XR Pharmacotherapy Knowledge Among Community Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2023 Oct 14:16:11795514231203913. doi: 10.1177/11795514231203913. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun^{1

2}, Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari^{2

3}, Moyad Shahwan^{4

5}, Nageeb Hassan^{4

5}, Sa'ed H Zyoud^{6

7}, Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber⁸, Tariq Al-Qirim⁹

Affiliations

¹ Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
² Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
³ Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
⁴ Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
⁵ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
⁶ Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
⁷ Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine.
⁸ Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Al mizhar Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
⁹ Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Abstract

Background: There is a little knowledge on the extent to which healthcare providers understand and accept the professional recommendations and appropriate dosing strategy regarding metformin XR.

Objectives: To evaluate UAE community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) concerning metformin XR.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional research study conducted amongst licensed community pharmacists. The survey took place via a questionnaire and physical interviews were held. The survey used in this study included questions on demographics and questions on the participants' attitudes, knowledge and practices concerning metformin XR. The factors influencing KAP regarding metformin XR were examined via simple logistic regression analysis.

Results: Threehundred fifty-three (n = 353) participants were recruited in the study. Independent pharmacies constituted 57.5% of this study sample and 42.5% were chain pharmacies. The average knowledge score about metformin XR tablets was 42.5% with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% [37.3%, 47.4]. Better knowledge scores on metformin XR tablets was observed in respondents aged ⩾40 years (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.63-5.4), having greater than 10 years in terms of experience (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.25-4.16) and pharmacist graduated from Regional or international universities (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.34-3.24). About 78% (n = 275) of the participants believed that metformin XR tablets have better efficacy and 63.2% (n = 233) indicated that metformin IR was associated with greater adverse effects.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a distinct gap in knowledge, attitude and practice pertaining to metformin XR among community pharmacists in the UAE. The community pharmacists need to enhance their practice by receiving accurate and reliable data to support their decision-making on the prescribing of metformin XR. The implementation of novel guidelines and evidence dissemination strategies may help bridge this gap.

Keywords: Metformin XR; adherence; attitude; knowledge; metformin IR; pharmacist; practice.