Information on antineoplastic drugs for nononcologist physicians

A postcard questionnaire was used to evaluate drug information letters that were sent to physicians who administered injectable chemotherapy to a hospital's outpatients. During the eight-month study period, 282 questionnaires were sent out with patients and 86 (30%) were returned. Three drugs (doxorubicin, fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide) accounted for over 50% of all the drugs listed on the returned surveys. Responses indicating prior knowledge of side effects, route of administration and stability ranged from a low of 66% (stability information) to a high of 86% (route of administration). All of the responses for investigational drugs indicated that the physician thought the drug information received was helpful. More than 90% of the responses indicated that the information was helpful for commercially available drugs. Two-thirds of all responses from oncologists indicated that the information in the letters was helpful; a much higher percentage (98%) of nononcologists found the information helpful. Because of the positive response to the letters, the drug information service plans to expand and continue the program.