Impact of Patient-Specific Drug Interaction Information on Physician Prescribing Patterns

Patient exposure to potential anticoagulant drug interactions was identified by computerized drug-therapy surveillance, as part of a peer-review program. To evaluate the response of clinicians provided with data on the potential drug interactions, 119 “exposed” patients were randomly divided and assigned to study or control groups. Physicians prescribing for the 60 study patients were informed of the potential problem by letter and were furnished with information on the drug interaction, while the 59 control patients were only monitored. Physicians provided with the information made statistically more changes in drug therapy than those not informed (p < 0.05). Over 75 percent of study-patient physicians responding to a questionnaire accompanying the drug interaction data indicated that the service was useful and should be expanded to other drugs. Application of methods similar to that used in this study should offer drug utilization review committees an effective approach to improving drug therapy.