Patient knowledge level on the use of simvastatin: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61099/junedik.v4i1.219Keywords:
Cardiovascular Diseases, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Hypercholesterolemia, Pharmacies, SimvastatinAbstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, accounting for approximately 20.5 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Elevated cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor contributing to atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and stroke. In Southeast Asia, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia continues to rise alongside increasing non-communicable diseases. Optimal statin therapy requires adequate patient knowledge to ensure adherence and prevent inappropriate use. This study aimed to determine the level of patient knowledge regarding the use of simvastatin at a community pharmacy in Makassar, Indonesia.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2024 at Abifayruz Pharmacy. A total of 25 adult patients who had received simvastatin were recruited using incidental sampling. Knowledge was assessed using a 10-item structured questionnaire based on the Guttman scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Effect sizes were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.
Results: Overall, 90% of respondents demonstrated high knowledge. In multivariable analysis, no independent variable was significantly associated with high knowledge (e.g., male sex AOR=1.89; 95% CI: 0.11–31.2; p=0.662). Wide confidence intervals reflected limited precision due to a small sample size.
Conclusion: Although overall knowledge was high, specific gaps in long-term adherence and in recognizing adverse effects remain. Strengthening pharmacist-led counseling protocols in community pharmacies may enhance medication literacy and support cardiovascular disease prevention strategies
Downloads
References
Aggarwal, S. K., Jiang, L., Liu, G., Grabowska, M. E., Ong, H. H., Wilke, R. A., Feng, Q., & Wei, W.-Q. (2024). Individualized Dose-Response to Statins Associated With Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes. JACC: Advances, 3(4), 100894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100894
Britten, J., Roura-Monllor, J. A., Malik, M., Moran, S., DeAngelis, A., Driggers, P., Afrin, S., Borahay, M., & Catherino, W. H. (2024). Simvastatin induces degradation of the extracellular matrix in human leiomyomata: novel in vitro, in vivo, and patient level evidence of matrix metalloproteinase involvement. F&S Science, 5(1), 80–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfss.2023.11.005
Chou, E., Legasto, C. S., Chin, A. K., Baik, A. H., & Schulte, B. C. (2025). Statin Use in Patients With Cancer. JACC: Advances, 4(11), 102259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102259
Daliri, M., Simental-Mendia, L. E., Jamialahmadi, T., Kesharwani, P., Reiner, Z., & Sahebkar, A. (2025). Effect of Statins on Superoxide Dismutase Level: A Systematic Review. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 32(5), 1007–1016. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867331666230831145809
Elfarouny, A. A., Haggag, Y. A., Essa, E. A., & El-Gizawy, S. A. (2026). Facile Formulation of an Oral Nanovesicular Carrier Co-Encapsulating Simvastatin and Ezetimibe for Enhanced Lipid-Lowering Effect. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 221, 115003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2026.115003
Encinas-Basurto, D., Acosta, M. F., Eedara, B. B., Fineman, J. R., Black, S. M., & Mansour, H. M. (2024). Design and comprehensive characterization of dry powder inhalation aerosols of simvastatin DPPC/DPPG lung surfactant-mimic nanoparticles/microparticles for pulmonary nanomedicine. RSC Advances, 14(40), 29413–29427. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA04947K
Fawaz, A., Mohammed, M. M., Ismail, A., Rani, K. G. A., & Samsudin, A. R. (2024). The influence of simvastatin on osteoblast functionality in the presence of titanium dioxide particles In-vitro. Archives of Oral Biology, 167, 106065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2024.106065
Feix, J., Solek, C. C., Carus, K. M., Pedott, V. de A., Cichota, L. C., Gonçalves, I. L., & Amaral, A. U. (2025). Simvastatin markedly alters locomotor behavior parameters and induces mortality in planarians. European Journal of Pharmacology, 1005, 178112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.178112
Jing, Z., Yuan, W., Wang, J., Ni, R., Qin, Y., Mao, Z., Wei, F., Song, C., Zheng, Y., Cai, H., & Liu, Z. (2024). Simvastatin/hydrogel-loaded 3D-printed titanium alloy scaffolds suppress osteosarcoma via TF/NOX2-associated ferroptosis while repairing bone defects. Bioactive Materials, 33, 223–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.11.001
Kadang, Y., & Sulaturrahma, F. (2024). The patient’s level of knowledge about analgesic drug self-medication. Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan, 2(3), 110–117. https://doi.org/10.61099/junedik.v2i3.62
Kretschmer, D., Tokcan, M., Markwirth, P., Wagmann, L., Mahfoud, F., Böhm, M., & Meyer, M. R. (2026). Capillary blood microsampling and LC–Orbitrap analysis for adherence monitoring of cardiovascular drugs: method development, cross-validation, and patient proof-of-concept using VAMS and Capitainer-B. Talanta, 301, 129293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2025.129293
Lin, W., Zheng, Q., Zippi, M., Fiorino, S., Zimmer, V., Zhang, J., Grottesi, A., & Hong, W. (2025). A Mendelian randomization study investigating the causal effect of simvastatin consumption on pancreatitis risk. Pancreatology, 25(5), 614–623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2025.06.007
Mondal, M., Lahiri, A., & Datta, A. (2026). Targeting colorectal cancer liver metastasis through repurposing metabolic and immune inhibitors: A theoretical study. Computational Biology and Chemistry, 120, 108689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2025.108689
Ouyang, Z., Ma, M., Zhang, Z., Wu, H., Xue, Y., Jian, Y., Yin, K., Yu, S., Zhao, C., Guo, W., & Gu, X. (2024). Targeted Degradation of PCSK9 In Vivo by Autophagy-Tethering Compounds. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67(1), 433–449. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01634
Qiao, Z.-B., Gu, M.-Z., Wang, Y.-W., Ma, B.-B., & Pang, S.-S. (2024). Combination treatment with whole body vibration and simvastatin improves the early osseointegration in aged rats. Bone Reports, 22, 101790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bonr.2024.101790
Rewthamrongsris, P., Phothichailert, S., Chokechanachaisakul, U., Kornsuthisopon, C., & Osathanon, T. (2024). Simvastatin Induces Apoptosis but Attenuates Migration in SCAPs. International Dental Journal, 74(2), 352–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2023.10.015
Shi, S.-R., Xin, J.-W., Ji, H.-H., Ma, C.-N., Liu, F.-Y., Liu, T., Qu, H.-J., Qu, Z.-J., Ni, M., & Guo, S.-D. (2025). The combination of Fucus vesiculosus-derived fucoidan and simvastatin attenuates atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet plus balloon catheter injury in New Zealand rabbits. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 320, 145628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145628
Suprapto, Kamaruddin, M. I., Herlianty, & Nurhanifah, D. (2024). Building Nurse Competency Strategy at Public Health Center in Indonesia: A Descriptive Qualitative Approach. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 15(03), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2024.v15i03.008
Suprapto, S., Lalla, N. N., Mulat, T. C., & Arda, D. (2023). Human resource development and job satisfaction among nurses. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 12(3), 1056. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijphs.v12i3.22982
Suprapto, S., Mulat, T. C., & Lalla, N. S. N. (2021). Nurse competence in implementing public health care. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 10(2), 428. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijphs.v10i2.20711
Suzuki, A., Karachaliou, G. S., Perkins, A. M., Dorn, C., Reeves, R. M., Arnold, T., Bashir, M. R., Efird, J. T., Abdelmalek, M. F., & Diehl, A. M. (2025). Age-specific protective effects of statins against cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver enzyme elevation associated with metabolic dysfunction: a retrospective cohort study of electronic health records. EClinicalMedicine, 87, 103431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103431
Tao, B., & Zhang, J. (2025). HMGCR-driven cholesterol metabolism dysregulation and its role in osteoarthritis diagnosis and immune regulation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 792, 152958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.152958
Tavakoli, M., Salehi, H., Emadi, R., Varshosaz, J., Labbaf, S., Seifalian, A. M., Sharifianjazi, F., & Mirhaj, M. (2024). 3D printed polylactic acid-based nanocomposite scaffold stuffed with microporous simvastatin-loaded polyelectrolyte for craniofacial reconstruction. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 258, 128917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128917
Wu, Y., Song, Y., Xie, N., Zhao, W., Lv, J., Zhang, T., Zhang, Y., Chen, H., Sun, W., Luo, Z., Cheng, X., Jiang, T., Wang, Z., Chen, X., Hu, Y., Fang, Y., Bai, R., Liu, X., He, X., … Wang, L. (2025). KLF2-dependent transcriptional regulation safeguards the heart against pathological hypertrophy. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 199, 62–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2024.12.010
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Yogi, Yuniharce Kadang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Statement:
The authors retain the copyright of this work and grant Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan the right of first publication. The work is simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the initial publication in this journal are properly credited. The authors are permitted to copy and redistribute the published version of the work, including posting it to an institutional repository or including it in a book, with acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan.
This journal e-ISSN: 