Physicians’ awareness and use of drug-drug interactions software: A preliminary study

Abstract

Background: Drug-drug interactions software is used as a tool to investigate clinically harmful interactions. Prescribers need to be aware of these tools to improve the quality of drug prescriptions, thus ensuring better patient care. Drug-drug interactions are a common avoidable type of adverse drug reactions, which can have detrimental effects on patients in the form of drug toxicity

Objective: To determine the awareness of prescribers and the use of drug-drug interaction software.

Method: The awareness of physicians of drug interaction software was assessed. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to all resident physicians in the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital to assess their awareness and use of the drug-drug interaction software. The information sought includes sociodemographic characteristics, Physician’s awareness, and use of drug interaction software. The results are presented descriptively.

Results: Thirty-four medical residents filled out the self-administered questionnaire. The number of physicians aware of drug-drug interactions software was 30 (82.2%) for Medscape, Drugs.com 21 (61.8%), Lexi-interact 4(11.8%), and 3 (8.8%) for Epocrates. Medscape interaction checker was most used by 26 (76.5%) while Micromedex was least used by one (2.9%) medical resident.

Conclusion: Physicians were largely aware of and used Medscape.