Assessment of Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Perception and Practice Regarding Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is vital for promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobials. This study evaluated the
knowledge, perception, and practice of community pharmacists regarding AMS in a Nigerian state. The cross-sectional study
was conducted among community pharmacists using a 33-item structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with the
significance level set as P < 0.05. Out of 79 distributed questionnaires, 70 were completed (participation rate: 88.6%). Majority
of the respondents were males (n = 48, 68.6%), aged 26 – 45 years (n = 51, 72.9%), and had ≤ 10 years of community pharmacy
experience (n = 54, 77.1%). Overall, more than half of the respondents possessed good AMS knowledge (n = 51, 72.9%), while
approximately half had a positive perception (n = 38, 54.3%) and practiced AMS effectively (n = 36, 51.4%). Male pharmacists
showed higher awareness of AMS compared to females (89.6% vs. 63.6%; ꭓ2 = 6.716, p = 0.010). Respondents who were
Fellows of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm) had better AMS knowledge (100.0% vs. 67.8%;
ꭓ2 = 4.862, p = 0.027) and a more positive perception (81.8% vs. 49.2%; ꭓ2 = 3.986, p = 0.046). While community pharmacists
displayed good AMS knowledge, their perception and practice were average. Participation in the West African Postgraduate
College of Pharmacists programme was associated with improved knowledge and perception of AMS. Strengthening interprofessional collaborations can optimize health outcomes. Enhancing antibiotic stewardship among Nigerian community
pharmacists is imperative.