A total of 272 pharmacists submitted their responses via weblink. Many pharmacists (n=228, 84%) followed the latest COVID-19 updates on treatment and updated their information mainly through World Health Organizationdocuments (n=151, 56%). Pharmacists working in secondary and tertiary hospitals were relatively five-times times (AOR = 4.59; 95% CI 1.6912.8; p-value = 0.003) and three-times (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI 1.356.72; p-value = 0.008) more aware of COVID-19 than those working in primary hospitals. Pharmacists with prior adequate knowledge regarding epidemics and pandemics were twotimes more likely to have a good awareness of COVID-19 compared to those who had received none (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI 1.094.35; p-value = 0.030).
Conclusions:
Half of the pharmacists believed that they received required education in the past about epidemics and pandemics, and many follow the recent COVID-19 updates on medicines predominantly from the WHO followed by the governmentawareness campaigns. Many pharmacists believed they have a key role in the management of epidemics/pandemics via their hospitalpharmacy. However, this study identified certain awareness gaps regarding COVID-19, highlighting areas of improvement. (AU)