Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
19:15
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Prenatal drugs: patient information and its source
Contemporary Pharmacy Practice
|January 6, 1983
Summary
Pregnant women often lack adequate information about medications they take. Enhancing drug information accessibility, particularly from pharmacists, is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Public Health
Background:
- Pregnant women frequently use medications, some posing risks to fetal development.
- Effective communication of drug information is vital for this population.
- Understanding current knowledge gaps and information sources is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of drug information available to pregnant women.
- To identify the primary sources from which pregnant women obtain drug information.
- To evaluate the role of healthcare professionals, especially pharmacists, in disseminating this information.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 304 randomly selected postpartum inpatient women at a teaching hospital.
- Interviews conducted to gather data on drug exposure and patient knowledge.
- Information sources for each consumed drug were systematically recorded.
Main Results:
- Pregnant women demonstrated limited knowledge regarding the drugs they consumed.
- Physicians and nurses were most frequently cited as sources for specific drug information.
- Pharmacists were rarely cited for specific drug information but were highly regarded for general drug guidance.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant need to improve drug information provision for pregnant women.
- Pharmacists are perceived as valuable sources for general drug information and should be more integrated into providing specific guidance.
- Healthcare strategies should focus on enhancing pharmacist involvement in educating pregnant patients about medications.
More Related Videos
08:08Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
05:13Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:28Preclinical Development: Overview
Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
01:30Prodrugs
Prodrugs are a class of pharmaceutical compounds that undergo a biotransformation process within the body to be converted into a pharmacologically active drug. Prodrugs are designed to improve the therapeutic properties of the parent drug, such as enhancing bioavailability, increasing stability, or reducing toxicity. The concept of prodrugs revolves around modifying the chemical structure of the original drug to make it more effective or convenient for administration.
Prodrugs help overcome...
Prodrugs help overcome...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...