(116) A Survey Among Urban Community Pharmacists and Their Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Travel-Related Infectious Diseases

Publication Number: 447

Background: Among healthcare professionals, pharmacists potentially have an important role in creating awareness and control of travel related infectious diseases within the community, and they can provide useful insights and also have a primary role in providing recommendations to patients on the use of healthcare services.

Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of urban community pharmacists regarding travel-related infectious diseases.

Methods: Validated questionnaires pertaining to knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists towards travel-related diseases (COVID-19, malaria, dengue) were prepared and sent out to practicing community pharmacists in a South Indian city and their responses were recorded and analysed.

Results: Out of 400 pharmacists, 200 community pharmacists(CPs) responded to the questionnaire. Majority were graduates and post graduates of pharmacy[141 (70.5%)] and majority of them had more than 10 years of experience[118(59%)].
When the CPs were given the questions about Dengue[126(63%)] agreed that the dengue transmission occurs in rainy season and[132(66%)] of them agreed that they provide advice regarding preventive measures to customers in case of outbreak.
In case of COVID-19, [168(84%)] CPs agreed that the main clinical symptoms are fever, cold, dry cough, breathlessness, [163(81.5%)] CPs agreed that the incubation period of COVID-19 ranges between 2-14 days, [120(60%)] CPs agreed that they advise their customers to use face masks in crowds.
In case of Malaria, [130(65%)] CPs agreed that fever with chills are the main clinical symptoms of malaria, [155(77.5%)] CPs answered that chloroquine is the treatment option for malaria and [83(41.5%)] CPs use mosquito repellents to control mosquitoes.

Conclusions: Community pharmacist’s theoretical, practical and preventive attitude is very positive and consider that the promotion of infection prevention, control and patient education are key components for successful behavioral change of the patients towards travel related infectious diseases.