Requirements for a successful implementation of drug interaction information systems in general practice: results of a questionnaire survey in Germany.
OBJECTIVE
To determine drug interaction information requirements in general practice with respect to both content and mode of presentation.


METHODS
In a mail survey among 2,000 general practitioners in south-west Germany, we collected information on risk evaluation of drug interactions and combinations of concern, usage of and satisfaction with the current information sources, desirable content and mode of future presentation and demographic variables. Categorical variables were compared using chi2 test. Trends were analysed with Cochran-Armitage test and determinants of literature usage with logistic regression.


RESULTS
Response rate was 60.8%. The majority of general practitioners considered drug interactions a risk factor in prescribing (88.6%). For 18.2% of the drug combinations most frequently indicated as interacting, there was no published evidence of a clinically relevant interaction. More than half of the participants were dissatisfied with the information on severity, mechanism, and dose adjustment currently available in their sources. In particular, non-interacting alternatives were thought to be lacking (86.9%). Users of drug interaction software more frequently retrieved drug interaction information than non-users [odds ratio (OR) 1.95; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.50, 2.52], but only 28.6% of general practitioners had access to such systems. There was a significant trend towards electronic sources among younger physicians, but at present, 41.7% of general practitioners favour printed sources, and 8.8% would refuse to use electronic sources.


CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners wish for more informative support on drug interactions, especially concerning management. Despite a trend towards electronic information sources, printed documents are presently still required to reach all prescribers.
Bergk
Verena
V
Department of Internal Medicine VI, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Gasse
Christiane
C
Schnell
Rainer
R
Haefeli
Walter E
WE
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004346:Drug Information Services; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires