title: Knowledge and pharmacological management of Alzheimer's disease by managing community pharmacists: a nationwide study.
abstract: Background Managing community pharmacists can play a leading role in supporting community dwelling individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. Objective The main purpose of this study was to assess knowledge of managing community pharmacists towards Alzheimer's disease and its pharmacological management. Setting Community pharmacies in the Maltese islands. Method A nationwide survey was conducted with full-time managing community pharmacists in possession of a tertiary education degree in pharmacy studies. The level of knowledge was investigated using the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and the Alzheimer's Disease Pharmacotherapy Measure. Participants were also asked to rate a number of statements related to disease management. Results Maltese managing community pharmacists (57 % response rate) had inadequate knowledge on risk factors, caregiving issues and pharmacological management of Alzheimer's disease. Age and number of years working in a community pharmacy setting were found to be negatively correlated with increased knowledge. Conclusion The findings highlight the need of providing training and continued educational support to managing community pharmacists in order to provide quality advice to individuals with dementia and their caregivers in the community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zerafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta. charles.scerri@um.edu.mt.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3319-5273
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scerri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Dementia; Knowledge; Malta; Maltese islands; Managing community pharmacist; Pharmacotherapy