Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Background/Aim. The protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes has been scientifically confirmed. The present study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of community phar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2019/0042-84501800020Z.pdf |
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| author | Zeković Milica Krajnović Dušanka Nikolić Marina Stojković Tatjana Gurinović Mirjana Glibetić Marija |
| author_facet | Zeković Milica Krajnović Dušanka Nikolić Marina Stojković Tatjana Gurinović Mirjana Glibetić Marija |
| author_sort | Zeković Milica |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Aim. The protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes has been scientifically confirmed. The present study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with regards to counselling women of reproductive age on adequate folate intake. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted among the nationwide stratified sample of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, practicing in both private and state-owned community pharmacies in Serbia. The detailed literature review, expert consultation and pre-testing were employed in the questionnaire development. The descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software ver. 22. Results. Among 730 survey participants, 96.6% correctly identified types of deformities that could be prevented by folic acid and 77.0% recognized recommended dosage for women capable of becoming pregnant. However, fewer were able to recognize the optimal timing for folic acid supplementation (61.1%) and the proper dose for the NTD recurrence prevention (42.9 %). While 43.2% of pharmacy technicians thought that it was not their responsibility to provide a counselling concerning the measures for the prevention of congenital anomalies, only 4.7% of licensed pharmacists and none of the interns were of that opinion (χ2 = 198.287; df = 4; p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (54.7%) reported provision of informative consultation concerning folic acid once a week, or few times a month, while only 10 stated to do so on a daily basis. In addition, based on self-report, only 36.7% of participants communicates information and advice regarding adequate folate status at their own initiative, while the rest addresses this topic only on the patients request, i.e., reactively. Conclusion. Although participants acknowledged the importance of their role in preconception health promotion, our findings revealed certain knowledge gaps as well as dominantly reactive counselling practice. Tailored educational interventions and professional support are needed to improve the engagement of community pharmacy personnel in this area of public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c3cc55d7efd491f8a1b5ffba30973b1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0042-8450 2406-0720 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c3cc55d7efd491f8a1b5ffba30973b12025-08-20T01:58:44ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202019-01-0176111127113810.2298/VSP171226020Z0042-84501800020ZPericonceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy techniciansZeković Milica0Krajnović Dušanka1Nikolić Marina2Stojković Tatjana3Gurinović Mirjana4Glibetić Marija5University of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Belgrade, SerbiaBackground/Aim. The protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes has been scientifically confirmed. The present study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with regards to counselling women of reproductive age on adequate folate intake. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted among the nationwide stratified sample of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, practicing in both private and state-owned community pharmacies in Serbia. The detailed literature review, expert consultation and pre-testing were employed in the questionnaire development. The descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software ver. 22. Results. Among 730 survey participants, 96.6% correctly identified types of deformities that could be prevented by folic acid and 77.0% recognized recommended dosage for women capable of becoming pregnant. However, fewer were able to recognize the optimal timing for folic acid supplementation (61.1%) and the proper dose for the NTD recurrence prevention (42.9 %). While 43.2% of pharmacy technicians thought that it was not their responsibility to provide a counselling concerning the measures for the prevention of congenital anomalies, only 4.7% of licensed pharmacists and none of the interns were of that opinion (χ2 = 198.287; df = 4; p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (54.7%) reported provision of informative consultation concerning folic acid once a week, or few times a month, while only 10 stated to do so on a daily basis. In addition, based on self-report, only 36.7% of participants communicates information and advice regarding adequate folate status at their own initiative, while the rest addresses this topic only on the patients request, i.e., reactively. Conclusion. Although participants acknowledged the importance of their role in preconception health promotion, our findings revealed certain knowledge gaps as well as dominantly reactive counselling practice. Tailored educational interventions and professional support are needed to improve the engagement of community pharmacy personnel in this area of public health.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2019/0042-84501800020Z.pdfcommunity pharmacy servicespharmacistspharmacy technicianshealth knowledge, attitudes, practicefolic acidpregnancyserbia |
| spellingShingle | Zeković Milica Krajnović Dušanka Nikolić Marina Stojković Tatjana Gurinović Mirjana Glibetić Marija Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians Vojnosanitetski Pregled community pharmacy services pharmacists pharmacy technicians health knowledge, attitudes, practice folic acid pregnancy serbia |
| title | Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| title_full | Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| title_fullStr | Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| title_short | Periconceptional folic acid supplementation: Knowledge, attitudes and counselling practice of Serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| title_sort | periconceptional folic acid supplementation knowledge attitudes and counselling practice of serbian pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |
| topic | community pharmacy services pharmacists pharmacy technicians health knowledge, attitudes, practice folic acid pregnancy serbia |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2019/0042-84501800020Z.pdf |
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