Drug-risk communication to pharmacists: assessing the impact of risk-minimization strategies on the practice of pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To gain insight on the knowledge, opinions, barriers, and practices of pharmacists regarding drug risk-minimization tools.


METHODS
Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
20 states in the United States, fall 2004.


METHODS
2,052 randomly selected licensed pharmacists employed in a position requiring an active pharmacist license at the time of the survey and who responded to the survey.


METHODS
Participants completed a four-page survey regarding their experience with different types of risk-minimization tools.


METHODS
Univariate distributions for each question were analyzed.


RESULTS
50% of survey recipients responded to the mailing; 88% of respondents had an active pharmacist license. Of respondents, 18% reported never having received a Dear Healthcare Professional letter and 29% stated that they were not familiar with Medication Guides. Patient package inserts were thought to be somewhat effective by 53% of respondents. Of pharmacists who dispensed a drug with programs for special stickers to be affixed on prescriptions to indicate that the labeled risk had been addressed by the prescriber, 41% reported receiving a prescription without a sticker; 45% dispensed the prescription when stickers were missing. Sixty percent of pharmacists stated that risk-minimization programs have a negative impact on the daily practice of pharmacy; nevertheless, many acknowledged that it was a necessary duty.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists might benefit from additional training on risk-minimization strategies. The successful implementation and impact of risk-minimization programs on the practice of pharmacy should be carefully considered by drug manufacturers and regulators.
Lee
Lauren Y
LY
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA. lauren.lee@fda.hhs.gov
Kortepeter
Cindy M
CM
Willy
Mary E
ME
Nourjah
Parivash
P
D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States