Perceptions and Self‑Reported Practices of Hospital Pharmacists Regarding Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) is essential to improving patient safety and care outcomes. This study evaluated the attitudes, perceptions and self‑reported engagement of pharmacists in QUM practices within Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to hospital-based pharmacists in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals across SA to evaluate four QUM-related aspects: Perception and Attitudes toward QUM, Medication Review, Patient Education and Adherence, and Medication Dosage and Monitoring. Responses were rated on a 5-point scale, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Results: Of 360 surveys, 318 were completed (response rate: 88%). Overall, pharmacists reported high mean scores, indicating favorable attitudes toward QUM concepts and a high perceived importance of QUM‑related activities (mean scores >4 across all domains). The highest mean score was for Perception and Attitudes toward QUM (4.63), while Medication Review had the lowest (4.24). Female pharmacists had higher mean scores across all categories, and younger pharmacists (21–30 years) also had higher scores, particularly in Patient Education and Adherence; however, these subgroup differences were not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusion: Pharmacists in this study hold positive perception and attitudes toward QUM principles. However, the study identified gender- and age-related differences, as well as discrepancies between perception and practice, particularly in medication reviews. Thus, there is a need for targeted, tailored training and educational programs to enhance QUM practices among pharmacists in SA.