title: Evaluation of usage patterns and user perception of the drug-drug interaction database SFINX.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate how prescribers and pharmacists use and perceive the drug-drug interaction database SFINX in their clinical work.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed with questions aimed at the usage of SFINX, and the perceptions of the database. The questionnaire was sent out to all registered users of the web application of SFINX. The anonymous answers from the target users, prescribers and pharmacists were summarized using descriptive statistics. Statistical analysis was performed on age and gender differences for some questions regarding different usage patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was sent to 11,763 registered SFINX users. The response rate was 23%, including 1871 answers from prescribers or pharmacists. SFINX was reported to be used at least weekly or more often by 45% of the prescribers and 51% of the pharmacists. Many prescribers reported using the database during the patient consultation (60%) or directly before or after (56%). Among the prescribers, 74% reported that the information received made them change their action at least sometimes. About 20% of the prescribers and 25% of the pharmacists considered the information as irrelevant sometimes or more often.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most prescribers and pharmacists reported using SFINX in direct association with a patient consultation. Information received by using SFINX makes prescribers and pharmacists change their handling of patients. DDI databases with relevant information about patient handling might improve drug treatment outcome.
authors: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: marine.andersson@karolinska.se.
authors: Marine L
authors: ML
authors: Andersson
authors: Division of Drug research, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors: Ylva
authors: Y
authors: Böttiger
authors: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Centre (MMC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Bastholm-Rahmner
authors: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Marie-Louise
authors: ML
authors: Ovesjö
authors: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Centre (MMC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Aniko
authors: A
authors: Vég
authors: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Eiermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060735:Pharmacovigilance; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Clinical; Decision support systems; Drug interactions; Medical order entry systems; Questionnaires