Awareness of potential drug interactions with anticoagulants

A survey by questionnaire returned by 180 individuals determined the awareness of doctors and medical students and pharmacists and undergraduate pharmacy students to the potential of drug interactions occurring in patients receiving anticoagulant drugs. Pharmacy students and hospital pharmacists were particularly well informed of the hazards of drug interactions; community pharmacists were less well informed. Hospital medical consultants, registrars and general practitioners were more aware of the hazards of interactions than medical students. The survey clearly shows the need for more education of doctors and pharmacists on drug interactions, especially those involving anticoagulant drugs.