Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of community pharmacists regarding the care of children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires multidisciplinary management, yet pharmacists’ readiness to support affected families remains underexplored. This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward ASD care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 322 licensed community pharmacists across the UAE. The questionnaire evaluated familiarity, knowledge, and attitudes regarding ASD, and logistic regression identified predictors of higher knowledge. Pharmacists demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean score 8.7/15). While most recognized ASD as a developmental disorder (96.2%) with genetic origins (96.8%), misconceptions persisted. Self-reported practice readiness varied; while 63.7% were comfortable dispensing ASD medications, only 49.9% felt confident counseling parents. Higher knowledge was significantly associated with a PharmD qualification (OR = 3.1, p < 0.05), 6–10 years’ experience (OR = 2.1, p = 0.049), and prior ASD coursework (OR = 3.9, p < 0.001). While pharmacists demonstrate awareness of ASD, important gaps in clinical practice readiness and persistent misconceptions remain. Enhancing ASD-focused education and continuous professional training is essential to empower pharmacists as effective clinical monitors, supporting families and improving public health outcomes.