Public Perceptions of Ethical and Professional Practice in Jordanian Community Pharmacies: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Ethical and professional pharmacy practice is fundamental to supporting patient safety and trust. Despite advances in Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP), evidence from developing systems indicates gaps in ethical performance. This study aimed to assess the ethical dimensions of community pharmacists’ practice in Jordan from the public’s perspective, focusing on counseling quality, privacy, autonomy, and fairness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 710 community pharmacy clients across Jordan using a validated questionnaire measured five ethical domains and an attitude scale. Composite scores for patient satisfaction, ethical conduct, and pharmacist attitude were calculated. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to identify demographic predictors. Results: Participants were predominantly female (57.9%) and from central Jordan (69.6%). Mean domain scores were: history-taking (51.3 ± 34.3), counseling (60.3 ± 29.6), privacy (67.8 ± 26.1), autonomy (60.2 ± 36.6), and justice (86.5 ± 24.0). Counseling was strongest for medication use and timing but weakest for safety aspects—adverse effects (41.4%), storage (40.1%), and drug interactions (31.7%). Justice and professionalism received the highest perception scores, while privacy and autonomy received moderate ratings. Gender (female) and south region predicted higher satisfaction and ethical perception ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Jordan were perceived as demonstrating strong fairness and professionalism, but gaps remain in safety-oriented counseling and privacy assurance. These findings highlight areas where communication practices, privacy infrastructure, and ethics-oriented training may warrant further attention. Strengthening these areas could contribute to supporting patient trust and the ethical quality of community pharmacy services. Keywords: pharmaceutical ethics, community pharmacy, patient counselling, professional conduct, patient-centered care, Jordan