Pharmacist-physician co-operation at a regional level

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Drug Information Dissemination
• Physician Education

Background:

• Hospital and community pharmacists in the Betuwe region collaborate to produce drug information letters.
• These bimonthly letters are distributed to 83 general practitioners and 50 medical specialists in the region.
• Physician utilization and perception of these drug letters were investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess physicians' opinions on drug information letters.
• To evaluate the reported use of these letters compared to other drug information sources.
• To understand the role of drug letters in the drug adoption process.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among general practitioners and medical specialists in the Betuwe region.
• The survey response rate was 68% (n=83 general practitioners, n=50 medical specialists).
• Physicians' frequency of reading and perceived usefulness of the drug letters were assessed.

Main Results:

• The majority of responding physicians frequently read the drug letters and found them useful, especially for drug comparisons.
• Drug letters were the most frequently used source at the decision stage of drug adoption.
• The pharmaceutical industry and the "Geneesmiddelenbulletin" (Drug Bulletin) were primary sources at the introduction and information stages, respectively.
• While most general practitioners attend local group meetings with pharmacists, only 20% discuss the drug letters.

Conclusions:

• Drug letters are a valuable resource for physicians, particularly for comparative drug information.
• Integrating drug letters into local pharmacist-physician group discussions could enhance their influence on physician behavior.
• Further strategies are needed to maximize the impact of written drug information on prescribing practices.