Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare providers towards life-threatening drug-drug interactions in Penang General Hospital, Malaysia

Abstract

IntroductionThe evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of health care providers on the life-threatening drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and the implementation of specific interventions may enhance patients’ safety. The current study was designed to evaluate the KAP of healthcare providers (HCPs) on life-threatening DDIs using different drug information sources. MethodsValidated questionnaire contains demographic data, knowledge and practice questions related to the life-threatening DDIs, and attitude towards the preferable sources of drug information. The survey forms were distributed to pharmacists as well as ward doctors in departments of cardiology, nephrology, neurology, and infectious diseases, in Penang General Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. ResultsThe overall response rate for 220 distributed questionnaires was 65.45%. Knowledge level is associated with healthcare specialty (p < 0.001), with 100% houseman officer having low knowledge, years of experience (p < 0.05) (50% of the HCPs with11–15 years of experience had high knowledge) and postgraduate study (p < 0.05), which 78.2% of HCPs without postgraduate studies had a low knowledge level. An association was obtained between knowledge level and attitude towards the use of computerized interaction checker (25% and 66.7% of respondents with high knowledge level had agreed and strongly agreed, respectively, to use computerized interaction checker, p < 0.05). Respondents with high knowledge level had agreed (33%) and strongly agreed (33%) to practice screening of DDIs at admission, p < 0.05. ConclusionPrescribers may have insufficient knowledge to avoid potential life-threatening DDIs. These findings affirm the necessity of well-designed computerized alerting systems, in addition to highlighting on pharmacists’ role as the competent source of drug information.