Assessment of Physician's Knowledge of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions: An Online Survey in China

Abstract

Background: Drug interactions are the most common preventable cause of adverse drug reaction, which may result in drug toxicity or undesired therapeutic effect with harmful outcomes to patients. Given the rising use of combination therapies, the main objectives of this study were to estimate the degree to which physicians can identify potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs) correctly and to describe the common source of information used by physicians when they need to check PDDIs.Methods: A cross-sectional survey utilizing a self-administered online questionnaire was conducted among physicians in China. Participants were asked to classify 20 drug pairs as “no interaction,” “may be used together with monitoring,” “contraindication,” and “not sure.” We also collected data on the physician's source of information and altitude toward the PDDIs. An ordinary least square regression model was performed to investigate the potential predictors of PDDI knowledge.Results: Eligible questionnaires were obtained from 618 physicians. The respondents classified correctly 6.7 out of 20 drug pairs, or 33.4% of the drug interactions investigated. The number of drug pairs recognized by respondents was ranged from 0 to 16. The percentage of physicians who recognized specific drug pairs ranged from 8.3% for no interactions between conjugated estrogens and raloxifene, to 64.0% for the interaction between dopamine and phenytoin. When the respondents want to check PDDI information, the most commonly used source of information was package inserts (n = 572, 92.6%), followed by the Internet or mobile Apps (n = 424, 68.6%), consultation with clinical pharmacists (n = 384, 62.1%), medical textbooks (n = 374, 60.5%), knowledge base in Chinese (n = 283, 45.8%), and other physicians (n = 366, 59.2%). In the multiple regression analysis, the significant predictors of a higher number of recognized drug pairs were years of practice and altitudes toward PDDIs.Conclusion: In this online survey accessing physician's ability to detect PDDIs, less than half of the drug pairs were recognized, indicating unsatisfactory level of knowledge about the clinically significant drug interactions. Continuing education and accessible electronic database can help physicians detecting PDDIs and improve drug safety.

Examining and improving senior pharmacy students’ knowledge of clinically critical drug-drug interactions

“…In China, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical markets, physicians DDI knowledge levels were evaluated in 2019. However, the physicians' knowledge in the study was inadequate (Yuan et al, 2021). Ko and authors (2008) found prescribers' knowledge of potential DDIs insufficient.…”

Drugs That Interact With Colchicine Via Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-Glycoprotein: A Signal Detection Analysis Using a Database of Spontaneously Reported Adverse Events (FAERS)

“…This may be due to reporters' lack of knowledge about colchicine's drug interaction potential, resulting in an increased exposure to interacting drugs. 36,37 Physicians' lack of knowledge of drug interactions has been reported, and the common overriding of alerts reduces the effectiveness of DDI alerting software. 37,38 Our results suggest that colchicine adverse outcomes when concomitantly administered with a CYP3A4/P-gp inhibitor are of clinical importance.…”

Factors associated with a basic common drug-drug interaction knowledge among emergency department medical personnel

“…Similarly, Yuan et al conducted an online DDI survey focused on physicians and reported that physicians had an unsatisfactory knowledge level about clinically significant DDI (correctly classified 33.4% of DDIs). [ 22 ] Also, Nabovati et al found that medical residents of 22 specialties correctly classified the DDI as only 41%. [ 23 ] Thus, medical education about DDI since undergraduate degree and residency training could be essential, including introducing an accessible electronic DDI database that might help physicians recognize DDI before prescribing medication to their patients.…”