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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in promoting lifestyle modifications for health promotion in Sulaymaniyah City

Mohammed Jamal Ahmed
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Kameran Hassan Ismail
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammed Jamal Ahmed, Kameran Hassan Ismail (Author)

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Abstract

Background and objective: Lifestyle modification counseling by pharmacists is essential in managing chronic diseases. Community pharmacists are well positioned to conduct health promotion initiatives due to enhanced accessibility and the absence of a need for earlier appointments. This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practice roles regarding lifestyle modification counseling.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to survey community pharmacists in a cross-sectional study conducted in Sulaymaniyah city from November 2024 to February 2025. A convenience sampling method was used to include a diverse group of pharmacists. The survey evaluated knowledge levels, attitudes toward lifestyle change, adequacy of practice counseling, and barriers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data and identify associations.

Results: This survey garnered 311 responses from a pool of 500 community pharmacy professionals, a 62.2% response rate; 136 were male and 175 were female. Among respondents, 40.8% showed good knowledge, 54% had moderate knowledge, and 5.1% had poor knowledge of lifestyle change. Additionally, 76% demonstrated adequate practice. A significant association was found between higher knowledge levels and positive attitudes. Knowledge scores showed no significant association with place of graduation (p = 0.13) or employment sector (p = 0.37). Notably, 56% of pharmacists reported not having enough time, and more than 60% cited a lack of patient motivation as the primary barrier.

Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Sulaymaniyah have positive attitudes toward lifestyle modification counseling, but knowledge gaps and systemic barriers impede effective implementation. Improving pharmacists' contribution to health promotion will depend on addressing these issues through focused educational initiatives and interprofessional collaboration.

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How to Cite
Jamal Ahmed, M., & Hassan Ismail, K. . (2026). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in promoting lifestyle modifications for health promotion in Sulaymaniyah City. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (ZJMS), 671–683. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2026.047

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