Table 4 Perception of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial stewardship
Variable | Frequency and percentage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly agree | |
Perception towards AMS | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 AMS will reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics in the community | 1 (0.9) | 5 (4.4) | 30 (26.3) | 40 (35.1) | 38 (33.3) |
 AMS will reduce the rate of antimicrobial resistance | 1 (0.9) | 5 (4.4) | 28 (24.6) | 43 (37.7) | 37 (32.5) |
 AMS activities are important in the hospital setting but are not important in the community setting | 40 (35.1) | 32 (28.1) | 23 (20.2) | 13 (11.4) | 6 (5.3) |
 Participation in AMS activities will boost public confidence in community pharmacy services | 2 (1.8) | 4 (3.5) | 18 (15.8) | 49 (43.0) | 41 (36.0) |
 Community pharmacists’ participation in AMS programme will promote collaboration with physicians | 2 (1.8) | 10 (8.8) | 18 (15.8) | 37 (32.5) | 47 (41.2) |
Barriers to involvement in AMS | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Lack of knowledge about antibiotic resistance hinders community pharmacists from participating in AMS activities | 2 (1.8) | 11 (9.6) | 25 (21.9) | 42 (36.8) | 34 (29.8) |
 Lack of cooperation from healthcare professionals prevents community pharmacists from participating in AMS activities | 5 (4.4) | 9 (7.9) | 33 (28.9) | 45 (39.5) | 22 (19.3) |
 Lack of access to patient’s records limits community pharmacists’ involvement in AMS programme | 6 (5.3) | 8 (7.0) | 25 (21.9) | 40 (35.1) | 35 (30.7) |
Strategy to improve appropriate antibiotic use in the community pharmacy | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Patient education by pharmacists in community pharmacies at the time medicines are supplied to patients | 1 (0.9) | 7 (6.1) | 13 (11.4) | 46 (40.4) | 47 (41.2) |
 Raising awareness of rational antibiotic use, including antimicrobial resistance, among the public through media, such as TV, radio, and social media | 2 (1.8) | 2 (1.8) | 22 (19.3) | 35 (30.7) | 53 (46.5) |
 Educational programs of rational antibiotic use, including antimicrobial resistance, directed at the public | 2 (1.8) | 6 (5.3) | 30 (26.3) | 33 (28.9) | 43 (37.7) |
 Raising awareness of rational antibiotic use, including antimicrobial resistance, among community pharmacists | 2 (1.8) | 6 (5.3) | 20 (17.5) | 37 (32.5) | 49 (43.0) |
 Raising awareness of rational antibiotic use, including antimicrobial resistance, among pharmacy students | 2 (1.8) | 3 (2.6) | 14 (12.3) | 37 (32.5) | 58 (50.9) |
 Providing regularly updated clinical practice guidelines to community pharmacies on the treatment of infectious diseases | 3 (2.6) | 9 (7.9) | 12 (10.5) | 47 (41.2) | 43 (37.3) |
 Reclassification of all antibiotics as prescription-only | 3 (2.6) | 5 (4.4) | 21 (18.4) | 33 (28.9) | 52 (45.6) |
 Enforcement of regulations which prohibit supply of antibiotics from non-pharmacies, and by non-pharmacists | 2 (1.8) | 9 (7.9) | 13 (11.4) | 38 (33.3) | 52 (45.6) |
 Motivation of community pharmacists to be involved in antibiotic use campaigns through providing monetary incentives | 1 (0.9) | 7 (6.1) | 21 (18.4) | 48 (42.1) | 37 (32.5) |