Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Ayşe Nur Hazar-Yavuz; Betul Okuyan; Hatice Edanur Akkaynak Kilic; Meryem Ozge Kenar Kucuk; Levent Kabasakal

doi:10.12991/jrespharm.2001999

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Food-drug interactions (FDIs) represent a frequently overlooked yet clinically significant problem in pharmacotherapy, with community pharmacists occupying a key position in preventing them through patient counselling. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices regarding FDIs and drug–dietary supplement interactions among community pharmacists and fifth-year pharmacy students in Türkiye. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among community pharmacists registered with the Istanbul Chamber of Pharmacists and fifth-year students at a pharmacy faculty in Istanbul. Data were collected via an online questionnaire developed through a literature review and expert opinion. Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. The study included a total of 197 participants, comprising 103 community pharmacists and 94 fifth-year students. The highest correct answer rate on the knowledge test was observed for warfarin-garlic interaction (83.0% in students; 72.8% in pharmacists), while the lowest rate was observed for azithromycin-alcohol interaction (6.4% in students; 10.7% in pharmacists). The vast majority of participants believed that drug-food and drug-supplement interactions were clinically significant; however, the highest percentage indicated that participants chose the "sometimes" option in their counselling practices. This suggests that participants did not consistently apply their counselling behaviours. As one of the most accessible points of contact within the healthcare system, pharmacists hold a pivotal position in preventing avoidable FDIs. These findings underscore the need to embed structured interaction counselling into routine pharmacy practice and to develop targeted educational interventions to address the gaps identified.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 118, Date: 18.10.2021).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ayşe Nur Hazar-Yavuz ^*
0000-0003-0784-8779
Türkiye

Betul Okuyan
0000-0002-4023-2565
Türkiye

Hatice Edanur Akkaynak Kilic
0000-0003-0736-7692
Türkiye

Meryem Ozge Kenar Kucuk
0009-0002-3297-6721
Türkiye

Levent Kabasakal
0000-0002-5474-6436
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 6, 2026

Submission Date

July 24, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.2001999

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74JC89CR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Hazar-Yavuz, A. N., Okuyan, B., Akkaynak Kilic, H. E., Kenar Kucuk, M. O., & Kabasakal, L. (2026). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(5), 1292-1304. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.2001999

AMA

1.Hazar-Yavuz AN, Okuyan B, Akkaynak Kilic HE, Kenar Kucuk MO, Kabasakal L. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(5):1292-1304. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.2001999

Chicago

Hazar-Yavuz, Ayşe Nur, Betul Okuyan, Hatice Edanur Akkaynak Kilic, Meryem Ozge Kenar Kucuk, and Levent Kabasakal. 2026. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (5): 1292-1304. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.2001999.

EndNote

Hazar-Yavuz AN, Okuyan B, Akkaynak Kilic HE, Kenar Kucuk MO, Kabasakal L (October 1, 2026) Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 5 1292–1304.

IEEE

[1]A. N. Hazar-Yavuz, B. Okuyan, H. E. Akkaynak Kilic, M. O. Kenar Kucuk, and L. Kabasakal, “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 1292–1304, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.12991/jrespharm.2001999.

ISNAD

Hazar-Yavuz, Ayşe Nur - Okuyan, Betul - Akkaynak Kilic, Hatice Edanur - Kenar Kucuk, Meryem Ozge - Kabasakal, Levent. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/5 (October 1, 2026): 1292-1304. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.2001999.

JAMA

1.Hazar-Yavuz AN, Okuyan B, Akkaynak Kilic HE, Kenar Kucuk MO, Kabasakal L. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:1292–1304.

MLA

Hazar-Yavuz, Ayşe Nur, et al. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 1292-04, doi:10.12991/jrespharm.2001999.

Vancouver

1.Ayşe Nur Hazar-Yavuz, Betul Okuyan, Hatice Edanur Akkaynak Kilic, Meryem Ozge Kenar Kucuk, Levent Kabasakal. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students Regarding Drug–Food Interactions: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. J. Res. Pharm. 2026 Oct. 1;30(5):1292-304. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.2001999