Assessment of Physicians’ Awareness on Drug-drug Interactions and Common Sources of Information in General Hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2013-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interactions are an ever-evolving and still critical safety issue in disease management and treatment. Health care professionals‟ ability to recognize DDIs is important in reducing the risk of their adverse consequences. OBJECTIVES: To assess physicians‟ awareness on DDIs and common sources of information in general hospitals of Addis Ababa. METHODS: Cross sectional survey using simple random sampling and convenience sampling methods was conducted among physicians in general hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between January and March 201. Data was collected using self administered questionnaire. To test physicians‟ knowledge of drug-drug interactions, 15 drug pairs were used. RESULTS: A total 140 questionnaires were found valid. The percentage of physicians who correctly classified the drug pairs ranged from 12.9% to 65.7%. The average number of correctly categorized drug pairs was 5 (33.3%). Physicians who specialized in internal medicine or pediatrics had better DDI knowledge than those who specialized in other areas. Physicians who perceived the risks of DDIs are high and those who used other information sources had better DDI knowledge. The mean DDI information source usefulness score was found to be 3.59. Physicians who worked for more than 20 years, physicians who agreed up on the importance of learning about DDIs and those who agreed to consider DDIs as part of prescribing decisions had a higher mean DDI information source usefulness score.
CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS: Physicians in this study had poor DDI knowledge. Area of specialization, perceptions on risks of DDIs and DDI information sources were factors associated with physicians‟ DDI knowledge. Physicians in Addis Ababa had poor perceptions towards the importance of DDI information sources. Years
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of professional experience, the extent to which the risk for a DDI affects drug selection, perceptions towards the importance of learning about DDIs and perceptions towards considering DDIs as part prescribing decisions were predictors of DDI information sources perceived usefulness. On job trainings such as workshops and seminars and continuing education programs especially for specialists other than internists and pediatricians should be provided for physicians so as to increase their awareness of the importance of DDIs information sources and encourage them to pay close attention to DDIs. Physicians should update their DDI knowledge through continuing education and should improve their familiarity with information sources such as smart phone applications, Compendia of drug products.
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Drug-drug