Dementia-related knowledge and attitudes among hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey study

Abstract Introduction Dementia is a growing global health challenge, and healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes significantly influence quality of care.1 Pharmacists, as key members of the healthcare team, play a central role in supporting medication use. Evidence indicates that pharmacist-led interventions can improve caregivers’ understanding, enhance medication adherence, and positively impact health outcomes for people with dementia (PwD).2 However, little is known about pharmacists’ preparedness to care for PwD in Saudi Arabia. Aim This study sought to evaluate Saudi Arabian hospital pharmacists’ perceived knowledge and attitudes towards PwD, and identify factors associated with these outcomes. Pharmacists’ prior education and training in dementia and their future learning needs were also established. Methods A self-administered questionnaire (completed on paper or online) was distributed among hospital pharmacists in nine tertiary hospitals in Riyadh between December 2024 and March 2025. A purposive sampling approach was used to invite eligible pharmacists directly involved in dispensing medication for PwD (n = 372). Data were collected on respondents’ demographic characteristics, knowledge of dementia using the validated Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS, which assesses knowledge across seven domains: life impact, risk factors, symptoms, treatment and management, assessment and diagnosis, caregiving, and course of the disease), attitudes towards PwD using the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS), and education and training received on dementia. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise participants’ characteristics and their responses, whilst regression analyses explored factors associated with knowledge and attitudes; p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Open-ended responses were analysed using content analysis. Results The response rate was 60.2% (224/372). Most respondents were female (n = 122, 54.5%) with a median age of 32 years. Many respondents were recent graduates, having been qualified for ≤5 years (n = 83, 37.1%). The overall mean knowledge score was 18.9 (SD ±3.6) out of 30, corresponding to 62.9% correct answers. Knowledge scores varied across domains, from 48.3% in ‘risk factors’ to 74.6% in ‘life impact.’ The overall mean attitude score was 93.5 (SD ±13.4) out of 140. Female respondents (β = 0.22, p = 0.001) and those with professional experience of PwD (β = 0.16, p = 0.02) had significantly higher knowledge scores. Having a relative with dementia (β = 0.20, p = 0.004) and holding a postgraduate qualification (β = 0.13, p = 0.06) were associated with more positive attitudes towards PwD. Most respondents (n = 208, 93.0%) had never received dementia-related training, although many expressed interest in attending future training focused on caregiving, communication, and medication use. Conclusion Although pharmacists generally expressed positive attitudes towards PwD, their knowledge was moderate, with notable gaps in areas such as the risk factors for dementia. Given the limited prior training reported and respondents’ interest in receiving further training, targeted educational interventions are needed to enhance pharmacists’ knowledge in this area. While these findings contribute to the limited evidence base, they may not be generalisable to other regions or healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia.