Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and barriers regarding health promotion of breast cancer among community pharmacists

Muna Oqal; Mohanad Odeh; Rawan Abudalu; Abdelrahim Alqudah; Roaa Alnajjar; Yazeed Bani Younes; Maram Al-Shawabkeh; Luma Taha

doi:10.2144/fsoa-2022-0051

Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and barriers regarding health promotion of breast cancer among community pharmacists

Future Sci OA. 2023 Feb 3;8(10):FSO826. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2022-0051. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Muna Oqal¹, Mohanad Odeh², Rawan Abudalu², Abdelrahim Alqudah², Roaa Alnajjar¹, Yazeed Bani Younes¹, Maram Al-Shawabkeh¹, Luma Taha¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, The Hashemite University, PO Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
² Department of clinical pharmacy & pharmacy practice, Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, The Hashemite University, PO Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to identify the perspective knowledge, attitudes, and barriers of community pharmacists in promoting breast cancer health.

Methods: An internet-based self-administrated questionnaire was distributed using social media groups to the community pharmacists in Jordan.

Results: A 76.7% of the pharmacists had insufficient knowledge score of breast cancer and 92.7% had positive attitude. Access to breast cancer educational materials was the major barrier to pharmacists. A significant association was found between pharmacists' knowledge and breast cancer educational materials being given to patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Despite the low breast cancer knowledge score and stated barriers that could prevent actualizing community pharmacists' role, they had positive attitude toward educating patients about breast cancer health.

Keywords: attitudes; awareness; barriers; breast cancer; community pharmacists; educational material; health promotion; knowledge; patients; screening methods.

Plain language summary

The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and barriers about breast cancer health promotion among community pharmacists. An internet-based self-administrated questionnaire was distributed using social media groups to the community pharmacists in Jordan. A 76.7% of the pharmacists had poor knowledge score of breast cancer and 92.7% had positive attitude. The major barrier to pharmacists was access to breast cancer educational materials. A strong association was found between pharmacists' knowledge and breast cancer educational materials being given to patients. Also, community pharmacists had positive attitude toward educating patients about breast cancer health.