Lubna Swellmeen¹ , Shorouk Ibraheem^2,3, Heba A Khader⁴, Abdullah M Alhunaiti⁵, Odai Al Hariri²

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of Syrian refugees towards the use of medications in Al Zaatari camp, which has had nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees since 2011. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 280 participants was conducted using a validated questionnaire between March and May 2022. Results: Data collection involved face-to-face interviews. Over 90 % of the participants reported adherence to medication instructions from healthcare providers. However, 27.1 % of the respondents reported non-adherence to medications, mainly due to self-belief that there was no improvement, or because of perceived worsening of their health condition. Physicians (48.8 %) and pharmacists (24 %) were the main sources of medication information. Awareness and adherence to the use of supplements were sub-optimal among pregnant women. Conclusion: This study provides an important insight into refugee awareness of health and medication. The findings reveal high level of exposure to counseling, but highlight gaps in understanding and expectations that affect medication adherence. Therefore, improving patients’ education by enhancing pharmacist involvement is expected to enhance adherence to medication and health outcomes in refugee settings.