Knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the pharmacists related to complementary alternative medicines in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract Background The use of complementary alternative medicines (CAMs) has risen globally in recent times. Such medications are exclusively and readily available in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia through community pharmacies and other retail outlets, exposing the consumers to various risks like harmful drug interactions. These situations take pharmacists to a responsible position where they should provide evidence-based information to help consumers make safe consumption. The consumption of CAMs can be ensured safe if pharmacists have appropriate knowledge and training about their use, dosing, side effects, etc. This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the pharmacist's factual knowledge, perception and dispensing practice related to various aspects of CAMs based on gender and experience. Methods The study followed a structured self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey design. Out of 200, with a response rate of 89.5%, 179 pharmacists (115 males; 64 females) from the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia participated in this study. The knowledge scores of male and female pharmacists were compared using an unpaired t-test. The correlation between pharmacists’ knowledge and their work experience was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient test, keeping the significance value at p