Evaluation of patients' knowledge about their medications: A cross-sectional study in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

Abubakr Abdelraouf Alfadl; Mohammed Saif Anaam; Musaad Saleh Alhassun; Yazeed Rasheed Albuaymi; Faris Moallath Alrehaili; Rawan Saleh Alsikhan

doi:10.1177/27550834231163003

Evaluation of patients' knowledge about their medications: A cross-sectional study in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

J Med Access. 2023 Apr 7:7:27550834231163003. doi: 10.1177/27550834231163003. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Abubakr Abdelraouf Alfadl¹, Mohammed Saif Anaam¹, Musaad Saleh Alhassun², Yazeed Rasheed Albuaymi³, Faris Moallath Alrehaili⁴, Rawan Saleh Alsikhan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.
² Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.
³ SAJA Pharmaceuticals, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Jamjoom Pharma, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: To authors' knowledge, in Saudi Arabia, information regarding patients' knowledge about their medications is lacking.

Objectives: This study aimed to fill this literature gap by assessing patients' knowledge and perceptions about their medications.

Design: To achieve the objective of the study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted outside community pharmacies in Qassim region through an exit interview with patients after getting their prescriptions filled or refilled.

Methods: A convenient sample of patients was chosen based on acceptance to participate. A form was prepared based on the core and complementary medicines use indicators for evaluation of medicines use in healthcare settings developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Results: Four hundred forty-three forms were completed. A total of 70% of the indicators of patients' knowledge about their medications were found to be satisfactory, and a total of 89% of the patients were found to have positive perceptions about safety and effectiveness of their medications.

Conclusion: Overall, patients' knowledge about their medications was found to be reasonable with exception of the area "information about precautions and possible side effects" which had shown poor patients' knowledge.

Keywords: Medication; Saudi Arabia; patients’ knowledge; patients’ perceptions.