Pediatricians’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Clinical Practices Regarding Drug-Drug Interactions: A Survey Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are an important health problem that can cause serious side effects and treatment failures, especially in pediatric patients. Healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and clinical practices about DDI play a critical role in preventing these risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and clinical practices of pediatric physicians about DDIs and to examine the relationship of these factors with demographic characteristics. Method Demographic characteristics, DDI education status, knowledge levels and clinical practices of the participants were evaluated with questionnaires and knowledge tests. Statistical analyses included correlation, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analyses. Results A total of 290 pediatricians were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 46.9 years, and 61.4% had received DDI training. The highest correct response rate (94.8%) was observed in the question about nephrotoxicity risk, while the lowest rate (31.4%) was observed in the question about the use of evidence-based resources. 45.2% of the participants evaluated their knowledge level as insufficient. In clinical practice, 47.2% sometimes and 12.4% always perform DDI checks, while 37.2% never do checks. A weak but significant negative correlation was found between age and knowledge level, and the effect of other variables was not significant. Conclusion The DDI knowledge of pediatricians is at a moderate level, and there are some gaps, especially in the use of evidence-based resources. Dissemination of clinical decision support systems and continuous training are necessary to improve drug safety and patient care quality.