ArticlePloS one2026
Pharmacists Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Probiotics and Prebiotics: A Cross-Sectional Study from Palestine.
Article in PloS one, 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
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundProbiotics and prebiotics are increasingly used globally as part of complementary health intervention for various disorders. Pharmacists, as accessible healthcare providers, are key in guiding safe and effective use. However, little is known about Palestinian pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards these products. This study aimed to assess pharmacists' KAP regarding probiotics and prebiotics in Palestine and to identify demographic and professional factors associated with pharmacists' knowledge score.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 pharmacists using a self-administered structured questionnaire, covering socio-demographics, probiotics and prebiotics knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge was assessed using a scoring system, and participants were categorized as having poor (≤50%; 0-17 points), moderate (>50%- < 70%; 18-23 points), or high (≥70%; 24-34 points) knowledge. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multivariable linear regression were used for analysis. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.
resultAmong 400 participating pharmacists, the majority of participants were female (66.25%), aged between 20 and 29 (74.25%), were staff pharmacists (82.50%), and worked in community pharmacies settings (92.25%). The mean knowledge score was 21.3 ± 6.1 (range: 4-34). Most participants demonstrated moderate knowledge (57.8%), while 32.0% achieved high knowledge and 10.3% had poor knowledge. In multivariable analysis, selected factors showed modest associations with knowledge score, including age, probiotic/prebiotic education, and prescription volume (P < 0.05). Attitudes were generally positive, with 85.5% believed they provide health benefits and 81% were willing to recommend them. Practice findings indicated variable self-reported counseling and recommendation behaviors, with barriers related to evidence access and confidence in clinical application.
conclusionPharmacists in Palestine showed moderate overall knowledge, with positive attitudes towards probiotics and prebiotics, yet knowledge gaps persist. These findings suggest a need for targeted practice-oriented education and continuing professional development to strengthen evidence-based counseling and appropriate clinical application.
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.