Limitations
The fact that this study was conducted via an online survey brings
limitations just as it brought strengths. Such sampling technique led to
a convenience sample which is a type of non-probability sampling that
allows for data collection from a group of people easy to contact and/or
reach 38. Such approach
may introduce sampling bias, as pharmacists who use social media more
frequently had a better chance to participate in this study, giving
results which may not be representative of all of the pharmacists groups
in the MENA countries39. This might explain
the relatively young age of the study participants, as men and older
individuals are generally known to be underrepresented on social media39. Pharmacy students
who participated in this study did not report their year of study, which
can unveil useful information if indicated. Fifth-year students for
example are expected to have different awareness levels compared to
first and second-year students. Finally, although the survey was not
completely validated, the items incorporated in it were done in
real-time, based on the literature and reviews of a team of clinical
pharmacy specialists.