Migraine Management in Community Pharmacies: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Patterns of Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In Saudi Arabia, community pharmacies offer healthcare services for different conditions. However, clarity of the competence of pharmacists in managing migraines is lacking. This study aimed to explore the current knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns of community pharmacists concerning migraine management in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and September 2022 among 215 Saudi community pharmacists. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 27. Most community pharmacists (87.9%) feel that migraine management is essential to their practice, and 83.3% suggest between one and five over-the-counter (OTC) migraine products daily. Among the study pharmacists, 83.7% feel migraine patients should try OTC before prescription medications. Only 9.3% of the community pharmacists do not believe that migraine is a neurological disorder. The medications most prescribed for migraine were triptans, representing 52.1% of prescriptions. There were significant differences between the gender of the pharmacists and their knowledge, attitude, and practice overall score (p-value = 0.04). Male pharmacists exhibited higher knowledge, attitude, and practice scores than female pharmacists. Although many community pharmacists acknowledge their expertise and involvement in managing migraines, there is a requirement for further education and training to enhance their capacity to offer complete care to migraine patients. Pharmacists should also consider non-pharmacological interventions and complementary therapies when treating migraine symptoms.