Medication therapy management in Pakistan: a cross-sectional evaluation of pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers

Abstract

Background: Medication therapy management (MTM) is a patient-centered clinical service designed to optimize therapy and enhance patients’ quality of life. The published research has shown that pharmacists’ MTM services improve health outcomes. Collaboration among pharmacists, patients, and other healthcare providers is essential to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines. Despite its benefits, countries like Pakistan still face challenges in raising awareness of and implementing MTM. This study aimed to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community and hospital pharmacists regarding MTM and identify the barriers to their implementation. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2024 and August 2024 using a pre-validated self-administered questionnaire to collect data from hospital and community pharmacists. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 411 pharmacists. Data were analyzed using SPSS v27.0, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including binary regression analysis and Spearman’s correlation. Results: Of the 411 study participants, 54.5% were female, and 44.5% were between the ages of 20 and 30. Regarding work experience, 35.3% had 6 to 10 years of professional experience, while 32.4% of the participants reported familiarity with MTM. A majority of participants (69.3%, n = 285) demonstrated good knowledge about MTM, while 51.1% (n = 210) exhibited a positive attitude, and 52.8% (n = 217) reported engaging in good MTM practices. Additionally, 54.3% (n = 223) of pharmacists reported encountering multiple barriers to the implementation of MTM services, including a lack of support or collaboration from physicians (74.2%), limited access to essential patient information such as laboratory results, charts, and patient history (73.5%), and a lack of authority to initiate, monitor, or adjust therapy based on patient needs (73.5%). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that while pharmacists demonstrated adequate knowledge of MTM services, their attitudes and practices were found to be inadequate. This highlights an urgent need for targeted interventions, such as continuing pharmacy education, to further enhance their MTM-related knowledge, attitudes, and professional competencies. Furthermore, policymakers should recognize and expand the role of pharmacists in providing MTM services to ensure better therapeutic outcomes and improved patient care. Trial registration: Not applicable.