Bridging the gap between theory and practice: clinical pharmacists’ perspectives on pharmacokinetics in Sudan

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics (PK) is vital for optimizing patient care, yet a gap remains between education and clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate clinical pharmacists’ perspectives on the educational, practical and implementation barriers to PK. This cross-sectional analytical study conveniently surveyed practicing clinical pharmacists in Sudanese hospitals using a self-administered online google form questionnaire. The survey assessed perceptions of PK education, utilization in clinical practice, perceived skill adequacy, difficulty of application, and barriers to PK implementation. A total of 129 clinical pharmacists participated; 118 (91.5%) were female, 58 (45%) were aged 36–40 years, 122 (94.6%) held an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, and 58 (45%) had under five years of experience. Regarding PK education, 79 (61.2%) reported taking both basic and clinical courses, and 28 (21.7%) received continuing education. The overall median rating of perspectives on PK education was 53% (IQR: 43–60%), with low agreement in terms of importance 13 (10.1%) and relevance 35 (27.1%). Only the nature of the PK course was significantly associated with these perspectives (p = 0.043). Barriers to PK implementation were strongly reflected in participants’ perspectives (median 84%, IQR 76–92%), mainly due to a lack of practical knowledge 110 (85.3%), the absence of role models 99 (76.7%), and poor understanding among clinical pharmacists 112 (86.8%). In practice, 59 (45.7%) used PKs occasionally, 72 (55.8%) reported skill gaps, and the median difficulty rating was 5 (IQR: 2–6). This study reveals a critical gap between PK education and clinical application among Sudanese clinical pharmacists. From the perspective of clinical pharmacists, these findings highlight an urgent need for improved educational approaches and targeted professional development to better integrate PK into patient care.