Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38468217›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2024

Knowledge and practice of community pharmacists regarding the safety of drugs during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from a developing country.

Amer A Koni, Hamzah Qashoa, Abeer Abo Musa, Maen Masri, Walaa Hazem, Sari Taha, Aiman Daifallah, Samah W Al-Jabi, Amani S Abushanab, Sa'ed H Zyoud

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Model Development on Adherence to Aspirin in Pregnancy: A Co-Produced Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Amer A KoniDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Hamzah QashoaDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Abeer Abo MusaDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Maen MasriDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Walaa HazemDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Sari TahaDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Aiman DaifallahDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Samah W Al-JabiDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Amani S AbushanabDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Sa'ed H ZyoudDepartment of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine. saedzyoud@yahoo.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDrug use during pregnancy can cause unfavorable fetal and maternal outcomes. Information sharing is essential for pharmacists' role within intricate, modern healthcare systems. Community pharmacists (CPs) have demonstrated unsatisfactory knowledge across various pharmacological domains in most developing countries. This study aimed to explore the knowledge and practices of CPs regarding medications and herb safety during pregnancy.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a developing country using a self-administered questionnaire. A sample of CPs working in the northern governorates of the West Bank was selected by convenience sampling. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, practices and knowledge. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the data.

resultsA total of 207 questionnaires were completed. Most respondents had only a bachelor's degree (89.9%) but did not participate in continuous professional development (CPD) (71.0%). Almost one-third of the CP workload involved dispensing drugs to pregnant women. The majority of the participants reported that they inquire about pregnancy status (59.9%), refer to scientific sources (82.6%), and contact a prescribing physician (51.2%) in cases of uncertainty. A higher knowledge score was associated with receiving a master's degree and CPD programs. Most CPs identified folic acid, paracetamol and amoxicillin as safe, while tetracycline, isotretinoin, enalapril, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen were among the drugs mostly reported as unsafe. Castor oil, Senna, St. John's wort and ginseng were the most frequently reported herbs as unsafe.

conclusionsDespite the gaps in knowledge about herb pharmacology, CPs demonstrated acceptable knowledge and practice regarding drug safety during pregnancy. CPD is recommended for addressing gaps in knowledge and practice. Future research evaluating knowledge and practice may benefit from developing a specific, accurate, validated instrument.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesPharmacistsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansPregnancyPregnant PeopleSurveys and QuestionnairesCommunity pharmacistsDrug useKnowledgePracticePregnancy

Identifiers

PMID38468217
PMCPMC10926555

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.