ArticleBMC medical education2026
From classroom to the counter: exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Down syndrome among pharmacy students and pharmacists.
Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe worldwide prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) is increasing. Limited DS-specific information and dosing guidelines can hinder pharmacists' ability to effectively respond to DS related inquiries. As accessible healthcare providers, pharmacists are well positioned to identify and address these challenges, yet their role in optimizing DS care remains underexplored. This study aimed at evaluating community pharmacists' knowledge, confidence, and practices related to DS pharmacotherapy, and to identify training needs that can improve their role in optimizing medication management for individuals with DS.
methodsA cross-sectional online questionnaire was conducted among community pharmacists and pharmacy students to assess their knowledge, practices and confidence regarding DS pharmacotherapy. The survey included questions on educational background, experience with DS-related inquiries, and training needs. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, scoring, and tests for statistical significance.
resultsFour hundred and two participants completed the study. The results revealed that a majority had limited familiarity with DS pharmacotherapy. Levels in managing medication needs for DS patients were generally low, particularly for prescription medications. More than 90% of participants support the integration of specialized courses, ongoing education, and pharmacist training within the pharmacy curriculum. Positive attitudes toward integrating DS-related content in the curriculum were reported by 94% of respondents. They also emphasized the active involvement of public authorities, collaboration with community organizations, expansion of clinical research, and greater use of social media to increase DS awareness and improve early healthcare access. Knowledge scores were highest for Clinical Causes, Symptoms and Treatment (12.90 ± 5.84; range - 14 to 14) and lowest for Causes and Prevalence (- 3.61 ± 3.04; range - 14 to 14), with modest scores for Prevention (2.20 ± 2.10; range - 6 to 6) and Treatment (3.05 ± 1.81; range - 10 to 10). The mean of overall total knowledge score was 12.20 ± 7.23 (range - 44 to 44). Among participants, only 27% demonstrated good knowledge scores (≥ 70%), while 62% showed moderate knowledge and 11% poor knowledge Scoring analysis indicated significant gaps in specific knowledge domains related to DS treatment and dose adjustment.
conclusionsThis study highlights gaps in participants' knowledge and confidence regarding DS pharmacotherapy, emphasizing the need to update curricula to a more structured DS-focused curricula and mandatory continuing education. Strengthening pharmacists' competencies in this area can enhance their ability to provide safe, effective care for patients with DS and potentially contribute to positive outcomes in the health system.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.