RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults are detrimental to both clinical outcomes and health care costs, with their prominence set to increase in tandem with a fast-growing ageing population. Beers Criteria is one of the most commonly used guidelines that lists specific PIMs. Community pharmacists would therefore benefit from knowledge of Beers Criteria in detecting PIMs in primary care. This study therefore investigates the awareness of Beers Criteria and knowledge of PIMs among community pharmacists in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. METHODS: The study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge of PIMs was assessed using 10 clinical vignettes based on the 2015 Beers Criteria. Practice behaviour towards older customers was assessed using 10 items with a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 277 community pharmacists participated in the study. Only 27.1% of the pharmacists were aware of Beers Criteria, and of these, only 37.3% were aware of the latest 2015 update. The respondents demonstrated moderate knowledge of PIMs with a mean total score of 5.46 ± 1.89 out of a maximum of 10. Pharmacists who were aware of Beers Criteria had significantly higher scores (6.31 vs 5.14, P < .001). Only a small proportion of pharmacists (17.0%) regularly used Beers Criteria in practice. However, most pharmacists reported good practices when dealing with older customers in terms of asking relevant questions, considering age, referring to other resources, and regularly updating their knowledge through continuous professional development. CONCLUSION: Awareness of Beers Criteria remains low among community pharmacists in Malaysia. Pharmacists who are aware of Beers Criteria have improved knowledge regarding PIMs in the older adults. There is a need to increase the awareness and use of Beers Criteria among community pharmacists.
