Pharmacy students' ability to identify potential drug-drug interactions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of third- and fourth-year pharmacy students to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs)


METHODS
A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was disseminated to fourth-year pharmacy students in a school of pharmacy. A second questionnaire was distributed to third-year pharmacy students in 2 schools of pharmacy (schools A and B) and re-administered to students in 1 of the schools 1 year later.


RESULTS
Class of 2005 fourth-year pharmacy students correctly categorized an average of 52% +/- 13% DDI pairs on the first questionnaire. Third-year pharmacy students at schools A and B correctly categorized an average of 61% +/- 18% and 66% +/- 15% of DDI pairs, respectively. The average percentage of correct responses for fourth-year students from the class of 2007 was 65% (+/- 17%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy students' ability to identify important DDIs is far from optimal, even after completing experiential requirements.
Saverno
Kim R
KR
University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, USA.
Malone
Daniel C
DC
Kurowsky
John
J
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult