Assessment of Hospital Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: A Cross-Sectional Study in Türkiye

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of hospital pharmacists regarding therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in Adana, Türkiye. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire developed based on the literature. A total of 84 hospital pharmacists working in public hospitals participated in the study. Data on demographic characteristics, attitudes toward TDM, previous practice experience, and knowledge level were collected. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis. Although 97.6% of participants stated that TDM is necessary for treatment effectiveness and safety, only 11.9% reported previous TDM practice. The most commonly reported barriers were insufficient hospital or laboratory resources (50.0%) and lack of knowledge (36.5%). Vancomycin was the most frequently monitored drug. Correct response rates for knowledge questions related to vancomycin were low, including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target index (28.6%), target trough concentration (7.1%), and sampling time (7.1%). The correct response rate for the phenytoin-related question was 19.0% and was significantly higher among pharmacists with previous TDM experience (p