A survey on the knowledge and attitude on the effects of oral hypoglycaemic agents to reduce HbA1c levels in diabetic patients among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in Pharmacy Department of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan

HbA1c can be defined as glycated hemoglobin that develops when hemoglobin that carries oxygen throughout the body joins with the glucose in the blood, it becomes glycated. The HbA1c level could be routinely performed in patients with diabetes mellitus treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA). The level of knowledge and attitude among pharmacists and pharmacy assistants regarding the effects of oral hypoglycemic agents to reduce HbA1c levels in diabetic patients in the Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan had been explored. Their demographic factors which are gender, ages, race, occupation, religion, level of education, experiences attached to endocrinology clinic, and pharmacy unit. By conducting a survey using self-administered questionnaires, data were collected from 5th October 2016 until 7th January 2017 and were analyzed using SPSS 23. Unexpectedly, most of them (66.7%) were not aware about the HbA1c test and effects of oral hypoglycemic agents to reduce HbA1c levels in diabetic patients. The moderate level of knowledge and negative attitude regarding the effect of oral hypoglycemic agents to reduce HbA1c level especially when dispensing and dealing with medication recommends that there should be more advanced, experimental based training and provision for further education curriculum in pharmacy education. Occupation, age, race, religion and level of education were important factors associated with understanding of OHA effect. While for the attitude, gender, experienced attached to the endocrinology clinic and pharmacy unit play an important role for their attitude. Our results are important to serve as guidance in the development of modules which help to improve pharmacists and pharmacy assistants' knowledge and attitude regarding the effect of oral hypoglycemic agents. Thus, intervention to include HbA1c level parameter during patient counseling could be conducted by pharmacy personnel at out-patient pharmacy to enhance patient pharmaceutical care among diabetic patients.