Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Attitude Towards Opioid Pain Medication Use in Bahir Dar City, North-West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Opioid use is a major global public health problem, affecting 16 million individuals worldwide. According to a 2023 WHO report, out of the 600,000 substance-related deaths worldwide, 80% were attributed to opioid use. Pharmacists play a vital role in reducing unnecessary opioid exposure while facilitating access to non-opioid alternatives. To do so, pharmacists should have sufficient knowledge regarding opioid-containing medications and a positive attitude about opioid use problems.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ knowledge of opioid-containing medications and their attitude toward opioid use problems.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered, structured questionnaire distributed to 105 community pharmacists from July 1–30, 2023 in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. The tool included demographic information and questions designed to assess participants’ knowledge and attitudes.

Results

Out of the 105 pharmacists included in this study, majority were males (54.3%), nearly half held a bachelor’s degree (49.5%), and slightly above one-third had over a decade experience (39%). Regarding knowledge and attitude towards opioids, 62 individuals (59%) exhibited good knowledge, and 64 (61%) demonstrated less stigma toward opioid usage. Factors affecting knowledge include: education level (AOR (95% CI): 8.43 (1.76–40.35) and 9.93 (1.04–85.33) for bachelors and postgraduates respectively and age 1.45 (1.20–1.77)]. Meanwhile, experience [AOR (95% CI): 4.64(1.20–17.90) and 4.29 (1.23–15.05)] for 5–9 years and ≥10 years respectively and education level [AOR (95% CI): 4.08 (1.40–11.93) for bachelors and 6.40 (1.42–28.96)] for postgraduates were linked to attitude.

Conclusion

A gap in knowledge and more stigmatizing behavior was observed among community pharmacists. These findings imply the importance of tailored educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and promote positive attitudes toward opioid usage among community pharmacists. Therefore, it is imperative to deliver up-to-date information on opioids, emphasizing their high addiction potential, to ensure pharmacists are well-equipped with the latest information.