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Drug use in pregnancy—physicians’ evaluation of quality and clinical impact of drug information centres

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess physicians’ evaluation of quality, clinical impact and ranking of Norwegian drug information centres (DICs) with regard to drug use during pregnancy.

Methods

Questionnaires were submitted consecutively to all physicians who consulted a Norwegian DIC in 2006 for information on patient-specific drug use during pregnancy.

Results

Of the 162 questionnaires sent out, 123 (76%) were returned and 117 were included in the analysis. All of the responding physicians reported that the DICs provided high-quality service in terms of providing information on drug use during pregnancy, and 92% stated that the answer from the DICs had a clinical impact. The DICs were ranked highest among the different sources providing information, and general practitioners (GP) ranked the information provided by DICs significantly higher than hospital physicians (HP).

Conclusions

Physicians consider the information provided by Norwegian DICs on drug use during pregnancy to be of high quality and of significant clinical impact. The DICs were ranked highest as a source of information among GP, suggesting that the need for prescribing support is influenced by the workplace.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Centre for Clinical Research at the Western Norway Regional Health Authority, for help with the statistical methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Drug Information Centre (RELIS Vest), Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway

    Sofia Kristina Frost Widnes

  2. Section for Clinical Pharmacology, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway

    Jan Schjøtt

  3. Section of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Jan Schjøtt

Authors
  1. Sofia Kristina Frost Widnes
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  2. Jan Schjøtt
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Correspondence to Sofia Kristina Frost Widnes.

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Frost Widnes, S.K., Schjøtt, J. Drug use in pregnancy—physicians’ evaluation of quality and clinical impact of drug information centres. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 65, 303–308 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-008-0593-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-008-0593-4

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