Attitude and Awareness Toward General and Professional Ethics Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. Sample Size
2.2. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
Sample Characteristics
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Cottone, R.R.; Claus, R.E. Ethical decision-making models: A review of the literature. J. Couns. Dev. 2000, 78, 275–283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cooper, R.J.; Bissell, P.; Wingfield, J. Ethical decision-making, passivity and pharmacy. J. Med. Ethics 2008, 34, 441–445. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Rodríguez, J.V.; Juričić, Ž. Perceptions and attitudes of community pharmacists toward professional ethics and ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Res. Soc. Adm. Pharm. 2018, 14, 441–450. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Astbury, J.L.; Gallagher, C.T.; O’Neill, R.C. The issue of moral distress in community pharmacy practice: Background and research agenda. Int. J. Pharm. Pract. 2015, 23, 361–366. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Boulliat, C.; Darlington, E.; Faure, M.A.; Massoubre, B.; Dussart, C. The Contribution of the Humanities and Social Sciences to Pharmacy Education: Literature Review and Perspectives. Pharmacy 2020, 8, 227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Schlesselman, L.S. A cross-sectional study of applied bioethical reasoning in pharmacy students and preceptors. Pharm. Pract. (Granada) 2014, 12, 401. [Google Scholar]
- Ilardo, M.L.; Speciale, A. The community pharmacist: Perceived barriers and patient-centered care communication. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public health 2020, 17, 536. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mossialos, E.; Courtin, E.; Naci, H.; Benrimoj, S.; Bouvy, M.; Farris, K.; Noyce, P.; Sketris, I. From “retailers” to health care providers: Transforming the role of community pharmacists in chronic disease management. Health Policy 2015, 119, 628–639. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alfaifi, S.; Arakawa, N.; Bridges, S. The relevance of the International Pharmaceutical Federation Global Competency Framework in developing a country-level competency framework for pharmacists: A cross-sectional study. Explor. Res. Clin. Soc. Pharm. 2022, 5, 100095. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Agomo, C.O.; Ogunleye, J.; Portlock, J. Strategies enhancing the public health role of community pharmacists: A qualitative study. J. Pharm. Health Serv. Res. 2016, 7, 97–104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Al-Qudah, R.A.; Tuza, O.; Tawfiek, H.; Chaar, B.; Basheti, I.A. Community pharmacy ethical practice in Jordan: Assessing attitude, needs and barriers. Pharm. Pract. 2019, 17, 1386. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tahaineh, L.; Wazaify, M.; Alomoush, F.; Nasser, S.A.; Alrawashdh, N.; Abraham, I. Physicians’ perceptions, expectations, and experiences of clinical pharmacists in Jordan-2017. Int. J. Clin. Pharm. 2019, 41, 1193–1201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Nash, R.; Thompson, W.; Stupans, I.; Lau, E.T. Competence Training for Pharmacy; MDPI: Basel, Switzerland, 2018. [Google Scholar]
- Fino, L.B.; Basheti, I.A.; Chaar, B.B. Exploring ethical pharmacy practice in Jordan. Sci. Eng. Ethics 2020, 26, 2809–2834. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Alaca, L.; Kulak, F.A. Ethics in pharmacy education: A research on pharmacy students’ ethical awareness and views. İstanbul J. Pharm. 2019, 49, 70–76. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kirilmaz, H.; Akbolat, M.; Kahraman, G. A research about the ethical sensitivity of healthcare professionals. Int. J. Health Sci. 2015, 3, 73–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Deniz, E.U.; Rumeysa, E.R.E.N. Ethical Sensitivity: A Comparative Analysis of Pharmacy Students Taking and Not Taking An Ethics Course in Terms of Various Variables. J. Fac. Pharm. Ank. Univ. 2023, 47, 14. [Google Scholar]
- Köse, S.; Murat, M. Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Turkish Nursing Students: A Methodologic Validity and Reliability Study. J. Educ. Res. Nurs. Hemşirelikte Eğitim Araştırma Dergisi 2023, 20, 99–104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pongpaew, W.; Sununtiwat, M.; Sooksriwong, C.O.; Anuratpanich, L. Ethical Sensitivity among Thai Pharmacy Students. Veridian E-J. Silpakorn Univ. (Humanit. Soc. Sci. Arts) 2019, 12, 1055–1070. [Google Scholar]
- Duffull, S.B.; Wright, D.F.; Marra, C.A.; Anakin, M.G. A philosophical framework for pharmacy in the 21st century guided by ethical principles. Res. Soc. Adm. Pharm. 2018, 14, 309–316. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gunz, H.; Gunz, S. Hired professional to hired gun: An identity theory approach to understanding the ethical behaviour of professionals in non-professional organizations. Hum. Relat. 2007, 60, 851–887. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ogutu, S.R. Ethical Implications of Using Social Media in An Educational Institution; Northern Illinois University: DeKalb, IL, USA, 2024. [Google Scholar]
- Cicero, F.R. Behavioral ethics: Ethical practice is more than memorizing compliance codes. Behav. Anal. Pract. 2021, 14, 1169–1178. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ling, D.; Yu, H.; Guo, H. Truth-telling, decision-making, and ethics among cancer patients in nursing practice in China. Nurs. Ethics 2017, 26, 1000–1008. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Jneid, S.; Jabbour, H.; Hajj, A.; Sarkis, A.; Licha, H.; Hallit, S.; Khabbaz, L. Quality of life and its association with treatment satisfaction, adherence to medication, and trust in physician among patients with hypertension. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. Ther. 2018, 23, 532–542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Miller, E.M.; Porter, J.E.; Barbagallo, M.S. The experiences of health professionals, patients, and families with truth disclosure when breaking bad news in palliative care: A qualitative meta-synthesis. Palliat. Support. Care 2022, 20, 433–444. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Testoni, I.; Wieser, M.; Kapelis, D.; Pompele, S.; Bonaventura, M.; Crupi, R. Lack of truth-telling in palliative care and its effects among nurses and nursing students. Behav. Sci. 2020, 10, 88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Suri, M.; McKneally, M.; Devon, K. Tragic knowledge: Truth telling and the maintenance of hope in surgery. World J. Surg. 2014, 38, 1626–1630. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pergert, P.; Lützén, K. Balancing truth-telling in the preservation of hope. Nurs. Ethics 2011, 19, 21–29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Carpenter, D.; DeVellis, R.; Fisher, E.; Hogan, S.; Jordan, J. The effect of conflicting medication information and physician support on medication adherence for chronically ill patients. Patient Educ. Couns. 2010, 81, 169–176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Amer, A.B. The ethics of veracity and it is importance in the medical ethics. Open J. Nurs. 2019, 9, 194–198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wolters, M.; Hulten, R.V.; Blom, L.; Bouvy, M.L. Exploring the concept of patient centred communication for the pharmacy practice. Int. J. Clin. Pharm. 2017, 39, 1145–1156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kheir, N.; Awaisu, A.; Ibrahim, S.; Al-Dulaimi, S.M.; Gad, H. Perspectives of pharmacy graduates toward an undergraduate ethics course and its potential impact on their professional practice. Adv. Med. Educ. Pract. 2019, 10, 1047–1056. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Noordin, M.I. Ethics in Pharmaceutical Issues. Contemp. Issues Bioeth. 2012, 83, 83–102. [Google Scholar]
- Dewi, N.L.P.L.; Ginarsih, N.M.A.; Wirasuta, I.M.A.G. The implementation of indonesia health minister regulation related to sterilized dispensing in “x” hospital in gianyar-bali. J. Pharm. Sci. Appl. 2021, 3, 82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Siddiqui, S.M.; Siddiqui, D.A. The effect of unethical practices in pharmaceutical personal selling on physicians prescription decision: A comparative analysis based on medical representatives’ and physicians’ perspectives. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Entrep. 2024, 4, 52–76. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Delpasand, K.; Tavakkoli, S.; Kiani, M.; Abbasi, M.; Afshar, L. Ethical challenges in the relationship between the pharmacist and patient in iran. Int. J. Hum. Rights Healthc. 2020, 13, 317–323. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alameddine, M.; Karroum, K.; Hijazi, M. Upscaling the pharmacy profession in lebanon: Workforce distribution and key improvement opportunities. Hum. Resour. Health 2019, 17, 47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bashir, I.; Ahmad, M.; Jamshaid, M.; Zaman, M. Illicit sale of controlled drugs at community pharmacy/medical stores of punjab, pakistan: A road to demolition of public health. Heliyon 2021, 7, e07031. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Toma, A. Ethics and business in community pharmacies–a framework for an ethical dialogue. Farmacia 2022, 70, 985–990. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sholy, L.; Gard, P.; Williams, S.; Macadam, A.; Saliba, C. Public and pharmacist perceptions towards counterfeit medicine in lebanon using focus groups. Int. J. Community Med. Public Health 2018, 5, 489. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Okoro, R.N. Investigation of final-year pharmacy students’ views on professionalism and ethics in pharmacy practice: An interventional study. Int. J. Pharm. Pract. 2019, 28, 130–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Factor | Category | Students (n = 1043) n (%) | Pharmacists (n = 691) n (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Age | <24 | 989 | 150 |
≥24 | 54 | 541 | |
Gender | Male | 257 (24.6) | 222 (32.1) |
Female | 786 (75.4) | 469 (67.9) | |
University | Public | 51 (4.9) | 570 (82.5) |
Private | 992 (95.1) | 121 (17.5) | |
Study year | ≤3 | 349 (33.5) | |
4th year | 265 (25.4) | ||
5th year | 429 (41.1) | ||
GPA | Fair | 31 (3.0) | 14 (2.0) |
Good | 377 (36.1) | 188 (27.2) | |
Very good | 488 (46.8) | 326 (47.2) | |
Excellent | 147 (14.1) | 163 (23.6) | |
Duration of training | None | 352 (33.7) | 25 (3.6) |
<2 months | 189 (18.1) | 21 (3.0) | |
2–4 months | 232 (22.2) | 38 (5.5) | |
>4 months | 270 (25.9) | 607 (87.8) | |
Have studied a course about ethics | Yes | 559 (53.6) | 581 (84.1) |
No | 484 (46.4) | 110 (15.9) | |
Grade of ethics course | I have not studied an ethics course | 484 (46.4) | 111 (16.1) |
<80% | 148 (14.2) | 161 (23.3) | |
≥80% | 411 (39.4) | 419 (60.6) | |
Work area | Does not work | Student 768 (73.5) | 9 (1.4) |
Community pharmacy | 243 (23.3) | 549 (79.4) | |
Hospital | 16 (1.5) | 83 (12.0) | |
Industry | 12 (1.2) | 38 (5.5) | |
Company/drug store | 1 (0.1) | 8 (1.2) | |
Life situation Live with family | Yes | 966 (92.6) | 593 (85.8) |
No | 77 (7.4) | 98 (14.2) | |
The course covered all areas of ethics | Yes | 747 (71.6) | 509 (73.7) |
No | 296 (28.4) | 182 (26.3) |
No | Factor | Category | Students n (%) | Pharmacists n (%) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A1 | Do you read independently or engage in extracurricular activities related to ethical issues in pharmacy? | Yes No | 611 (58.6) 432 (41.4) | 417 (60.3) 274 (39.7) | 0.464 |
A2 | In your opinion, is ethics required? | Yes No | 1017 (97.5) 26 (2.5) | 684 (99.0 7 (1.0) | 0.027 * |
A3 | Honesty is the best policy | Yes No | 995 (95.4) 48 (4.6) | 666 (96.4) 25 (3.6) | 0.318 |
A4 | Goodness is more important than other | Yes No | 971 (93.1) 72 (6.9) | 657 (95.1) 34 (4.9) | 0.092 |
A5 | Lying to survive ought to be done | Yes No | 199 (19.1) 844 (80.9) | 101 (14.6) 590 (85.4) | 0.016 * |
A6 | The result is more important than the process | Yes No | 413 (39.6) 630 (60.4) | 208 (30.1) 483 (69.9) | <0.001 * |
A7 | corruption will be permitted if it brings the most benefit to society | Yes No | 111 (10.6) 932 (89.4) | 48 (6.9) 643 (93.1) | 0.009 * |
A8 | It’s common to ignore other people being exploited. | Yes No | 488 (46.8) 555 (53.2) | 276 (39.9) 415 (60.1) | 0.005 * |
A9 | To do as most people, even if it is a wrong thing, because they do not want to be a black sheep | Yes No | 152 (14.6) 891 (85.4) | 59 (8.5) 632 (91.5) | <0.001 * |
No | Factor | Category | Students n (%) | Pharmacists n (%) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
W1 | I have a good awareness of the pharmacy code of ethics. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 29 (2.8) 64 (6.1) 256(24.5) 272 (26.1) 422 (40.5) | 10 (1.4) 29 (4.2) 89 (12.9) 140 (20.3) 423 (61.2) | <0.001 * |
W2 | I allow others to perform the pharmacist’s role. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 487 (46.7) 118 (11.3) 182 (17.4) 118 (11.3) 138 (13.2) | 397 (57.5) 82 (11.9) 65 (9.4) 46 (6.7) 101 (14.6) | <0.001 * |
W3 | The primary aim of the pharmacy is profit, and it is more important than adhering to ethical principles when practicing. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 507 (48.6) 197 (18.9) 198 (19.0) 76 (7.3) 65 (6.2) | 377 (54.6) 142 (20.5) 97 (14.0) 33 (4.8) 42 (6.1) | 0.009 * |
W4 | I can dispense a prescription medicine without a prescription. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 475 (45.5) 169 (16.2) 216 (20.7) 100 (9.6) 83 (8.0) | 315 (45.6) 88 (12.7) 128 (18.5) 70 (10.1) 90 (13.0) | 0.004 * |
W5 | It is important to tell the truth to the patient (including adverse drug information) even if concealed by the treating physician. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 85 (8.1) 84 (8.1) 228 (21.9) 214 (20.5) 432 (41.4) | 47 (6.8) 36 (5.2) 126 (18.2) 117 (16.9) 365 (52.8) | <0.001 * |
W6 | I think a pharmacist doesn’t need to be always in the pharmacy. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 582 (55.8) 130 (12.5) 144 (13.8) 86 (8.2) 101 (9.7) | 433 (62.7) 103 (14.9) 68 (9.8) 44 (6.4) 43 (6.2) | 0.001 * |
W7 | I think it is unfavourable to share patients’ information with patients’ relatives and friends. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 72 (6.9) 71 (6.8) 211 (20.2) 161 (15.4) 528 (50.6) | 54 (7.8) 44 (6.4) 88 (12.7) 99 (14.3) 406 (58.8) | 0.001 * |
W8 | I would dispense a prescription that has an error without contacting the doctor. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 697 (66.8) 123 (11.8) 107 (10.3) 55 (5.3) 61 (5.8) | 531 (76.8) 66 (9.6) 44 (6.4) 26 (3.8) 24 (3.5) | <0.001 * |
W9 | It is okay for me to recommend alternative drugs because they are more expensive. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 423 (40.6) 191 (18.3) 236 (22.6) 109 (10.5) 84 (8.1) | 338 (48.9) 138 (20.0) 138 (20.0) 45 (6.5) 32 (4.6) | <0.001 * |
W10 | In today’s competitive work environment, it is possible to have promotional activities in the pharmacy. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 60 (5.8) 101 (9.7) 328 (31.4) 273 (26.2) 281 (26.9) | 35 (5.1) 43 (6.2) 175 (25.3) 164 (23.7) 274 (39.7) | <0.001 * |
W11 | I can recommend to patients several non-medical health products other than medicine. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 130 (12.5) 95 (9.1) 283 (27.1) 283 (27.1) 252 (24.2) | 117 (16.9) 74 (10.7) 155 (22.4) 174 (25.2) 171 (24.7) | 0.024 * |
W12 | To maintain the well-being of patients, we should not disparage the skills of other healthcare professionals. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 491 (47.1) 169 (16.2) 211 (20.2) 91 (8.7) 81 (7.8) | 374 (54.1) 129 (18.7) 106 (15.3) 39 (5.6) 43 (6.2) | 0.001 * |
W13 | I may dispense an OTC medication; the customer requested an OTC medication despite you having doubts that he is abusing it. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 618 (59.3) 137 (13.1) 170 (16.3) 54 (5.2) 64 (6.1) | 490 (70.9) 94 (13.6) 59 (8.5) 26 (3.8) 22 (3.2) | <0.001 * |
W14 | I can supply Natural products with undocumented safety and efficacy if requested by the patient. | Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree | 449 (43.0) 84 (19.5) 221 (21.2) 84 (8.1) 86 (8.2) | 336 (48.6) 141 (20.4) 112 (16.2) 51 (7.4) 51 (7.4) | 0.060 |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Alameri, M.; Al-Taani, G.; Alsous, M.; Shilbayeh, S.; Al Mazrouei, N. Attitude and Awareness Toward General and Professional Ethics Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1556. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131556
Alameri M, Al-Taani G, Alsous M, Shilbayeh S, Al Mazrouei N. Attitude and Awareness Toward General and Professional Ethics Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan. Healthcare. 2025; 13(13):1556. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131556
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlameri, Mariam, Ghaith Al-Taani, Mervat Alsous, Sireen Shilbayeh, and Nadia Al Mazrouei. 2025. "Attitude and Awareness Toward General and Professional Ethics Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan" Healthcare 13, no. 13: 1556. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131556
APA StyleAlameri, M., Al-Taani, G., Alsous, M., Shilbayeh, S., & Al Mazrouei, N. (2025). Attitude and Awareness Toward General and Professional Ethics Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan. Healthcare, 13(13), 1556. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131556