Physicians' Drug Information-Seeking Behavior at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Western Region: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to evaluate drug information-seeking behaviors, preferred sources, perceived reliability, and related challenges among physicians at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Western Region (KAMC-WR), Saudi Arabia.

In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed physicians at KAMC-WR, a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia's Western Region, from October 15 to December 15, 2025. Data were collected via a validated, self-administered online questionnaire adapted from prior studies. The survey evaluated demographics, drug information needs, seeking behaviors, challenges, and the reliability of sources. Physicians were categorized as passive or active information seekers based on the number of clinical situations in which they sought drug-related information, with passive seekers reporting searches in zero to one clinical situation and active seekers reporting searches in two or more clinical situations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square/Fisher's exact tests, the Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression in SPSS version 28. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Among 148 responding physicians, most searched for drug information daily or weekly. Frequently sought details included dosage regimens (146, 98.6%), adverse effects (138, 93.2%), and contraindications (138, 93.2%). Websites and clinical pharmacists were the most commonly used sources, while mobile apps were preferred for accessibility. Key challenges included polypharmacy management, source variability, and restricted subscription access. Specialists and consultants demonstrated higher odds of being active seekers compared with residents (adjusted OR=12.5, 95% CI: 1.66-93.89, p=0.014).

In this study conducted at KAMC-WR, physicians frequently sought drug information during routine clinical practice, particularly through digital resources, but encountered access and workflow barriers. Improving institutional drug information resources and pharmacist collaboration could promote safer and more effective prescribing.