Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Antibiotic Use and the Perceived Role of Pharmacists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study
Rema Mohamed Alsakhri
Pharm D. Program, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Yasir S. Kheir
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Elmoiz Babekir
Department of Medicine and Adult Critical Care Medicine, Ibn Sina College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Elsamoual Ibrahim Ahmedani
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed A. El-Moselhy
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minya, Egypt.
Ekram Nemr Abd Alhaleem
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Bashir A. Yousef
*
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance, and community pharmacists may support public education and stewardship.
Aim: This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use and perceptions of pharmacists’ educational role among adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to April 2026 among adults aged 18 years or older. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of antibiotic indications and resistance, attitudes, self-reported practices, information sources, and perceptions of pharmacists. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and categorical associations were examined using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
Results: A total of 141 respondents completed the survey: 87 (61.7%) were female, 123 (87.2%) were Saudi, and 100 (70.9%) had a university education. Knowledge was inconsistent: 98 participants (69.5%) correctly identified that antibiotics treat bacterial infections, and 103 (73.0%) knew that antibiotic misuse leads to resistance. Overall, 93 participants (66.0%) had poor knowledge, and 92 (65.2%) had poor attitudes. Inappropriate practices were common: 71 participants (50.4%) had used antibiotics without a prescription, and 94 (66.7%) had discontinued treatment before completing the course. Most respondents believed that pharmacists explain antibiotic use (99, 70.2%), discourage use without a prescription (91, 64.5%), and help reduce antibiotic misuse (92, 65.2%). Nationality was significantly associated with overall knowledge (p = 0.028) and overall attitude (p = 0.005).
Conclusion: A notable discrepancy between knowledge and practice was observed: awareness of AMR coexisted with frequent inappropriate antibiotic use. The findings highlight a knowledge–practice gap among adults in Jeddah and indicate the need for future studies evaluating pharmacist-led education, enforcement of prescription-only policies, and behaviour-focused antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Keywords: Antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, community pharmacists, knowledge, attitudes, practices, self-medication, public health