OBJECTIVES: To compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacists and physicians towards statins utilization in outpatients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done at Penang General Hospital, from January to July, Malaysia, 2017. About 200 healthcare providers were enrolled using a pre-tested and validated questionnaire with good reliability (Cronbach's-Alpha: 0.783). It involved four sections: demographic data, knowledge, attitudes and practice of statins utilizationThe survey guided by the 2013 American college of cardiology/American heart association (ACC/AHA) dyslipidemia therapy guidelines. Data management was done by IBM-SPSS V23.0.

RESULTS: Pharmacists represented 21.5% with age (29 ± 5) years and physicians were 78.5% with age (31 ± 6.1) years (P-value: 0.056). The mean of pharmacists’ experience was (4.6 ± 3.8) years and physicians (5.5 ± 6.1) years (P-value: 0.360). Only (16.3%) of pharmacists and (21.7%) of physicians have postgraduate qualifications (P-value: 0.440). The knowledge of pharmacists and physicians about statins was (74.9 ± 11.2%), and (74.8% ± 15.8%) respectively, (P-value: 0.967). Pharmacists and physicians correctly answered the practice questions with (55.1 ± 18.7%), and (56.2 ± 15.6%), (P-value: 0.689). Most of the pharmacists (58.1%) and physicians (60.5%) have a positive attitude about statins therapy for outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Only (14%) of pharmacists and (21%) of physicians have a neutral attitude. However, (27.9%), and (18.5%) of pharmacists and physicians have a negative attitude toward statin treatment (P-value: 0.916).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically non-significant difference among pharmacists and physicians who had an equivalent level of experience and postgraduate education in knowledge, attitude, and practice. Pharmacists and physicians have a significant level of awareness and positive attitude about statins utilization amongst patients with type 2 diabetes. However, there is still a chance for the advance in practice. Moreover, improvement of healthcare awareness and attitudes positively returns on their practice.