Perceptions and Attitudes of Hospital’ Prescribers towards Drug Information Sources and Prescribing Practices

Abstract

Healthcare professionals use a variety of drug information sources to fulfill their clinical needs and medical practice. The aim of present study was to assess the sources of drug information among hospital’ prescribers and evaluate their prescribing behavior in Saudi hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected hospital’ prescribers using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate to the survey was 64.29%, with a ratio of 76.44% male and 23.56% female. The internet 137(60.89%) and textbooks 86(38.22%) were the prevalent sources for drug information used. Up-To-Date 107(47.56%), Medscape 105(46.67%) and FDA 74(32.88%) were the common electronic drug sources used. About 151(67.11%) of hospital’ prescribers considered the pharmacist as a reliable drug information source. The most favored drug requests by hospital’ prescribers from the pharmacists were drug alternatives 110(48.89%) followed by drug interactions 94(41.78%), side effects 78(34.67%) and indications 60(26.67%). Therapeutic efficacy 168(74.67%) and drug availability 73(32.44%) were the main factors contributed to the selection of drugs. This study shows some differences in hospital prescribers’ perceptions of sources of drug information depending upon their background and clinical practice. Therefore, knowing appropriate drug information used by hospital’ prescribers is fundamental for drug efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

Keywords:
Hospitals’ prescribers; Perceptions; Attitudes; Drug Information Sources; Saudi Arabia