Concurrent prescribing: Evaluation of its knowledge among dentists

High prevalence of potential psychotropic drugs interactions among Brazilian dental patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions involving psychotropics prescribed by dentists, and dispensed by the public healthcare system, as well as to describe the severity and level of evidence of those interactions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted data analysis from pharmaceutical claims in which dental patients received systemic psychotropics in 2017. Data from the Pharmaceutical Management System provided the drug dispensing history of the patients, allowing the identification of those on concomitant medication use. The outcome was the occurrence of potential drug-drug interactions, which were detected according to IBM Micromedex®. Independent variables were the patient's sex, age, and the number of drugs used. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS v. 26.

RESULTS

Overall, 1480 individuals were prescribed psychotropic drugs. The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions was 24.8% (n = 366). The total of 648 interactions was observed and, most of which were of major severity (n = 438, 67.6%). Most interactions occurred in female individuals (n = 235; 64.2%), with 46.0 (±17.3) years-old, concurrently taking 3.7 (±1.9) drugs.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of dental patients presented potential drug-drug interactions, mostly of major severity, which might be life-threatening.

A Survey of Medical Residents' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Drug-Drug Interactions, Shiraz, Iran

Rationale, aims and objectives: Medical residents are among the most important and influential members of the medical team and the level of their knowledge regarding potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is a good predictor of the ability to prevent the occurrence of DDIs, as well as safe and rational prescribing in inpatient settings. This survey was designed to evaluate internal medicine and cardiology residents' knowledge and opinion toward DDIs and to determine different sources of DDI information used by this population. Method: This cross-sectional knowledge attitude practice (KAP) questionnaire study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran. A 25-question questionnaire was designed and completed by 86 internal medicine and cardiology residents. The questions were related to the participants' demographic information, their practice characteristics, the information sources used by the participants, the residents' opinion regarding DDIs, and their knowledge regarding the interaction between 8 drug pairs. Results: The results showed that when the participants wanted to learn more about DDIs, most of them used software on mobile or tablet (59.3%). Nearly three-fourths of the participants (73.82%) reported that when a patient was about to be exposed to a potential DDI, they were informed by software on mobile or tablet that the interaction may be present. On average, residents answered 44.03% ± 23.79 of drug pair questions correctly.Conclusion: Our results show insufficient practice skills, as well as relatively poor knowledge concerning the participants' answers to questions. It seems that further practical training and education are required to enable prescribers to prevent potential DDIs.