Physicians’ Perception of Drug Information Resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi-UAE

Abstract

Objectives: To determine physicians’ preferences for different drug information resources in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: A questionnaire survey to determine preferences for different drug information resources was created and sent electronically from April 1 to May 13, 2012. A total of 3463 licensed physicians were identified from a comprehensive list of healthcare professionals provided by the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi Licensing Department. A total of 431 started the survey but only 372 physicians completed it entirely. Key Findings: Continuing medical education (46%) was ranked as the most favored source of information, followed by drug information references (28%), diagnosis/patient information (20%), and lastly peer-to-peer interactions (7%). Online sources of drug information were preferable (74%) to hardcopy (26%). A comparison of different physicians’ qualifications (consultant, specialist, and general practitioner) and number of references utilized for a particular topic (up to 3 resources versus 3 references or more) showed that their differences were statistically significant (p-value = 0.000). The most utilized sources of drug information by physicians was the British National Formulary (BNF), followed by Package Inserts, UpToDate, Drugs in Pregnancy & Lactation, Physicians’ Desk Reference, and Micromedex. When asked which drug information resource they would like to have access to, the majority of physicians choose the BNF, followed by UpToDate, MD Consult, Drugs in Pregnancy & Lactation, Micromedex, and Drugs Facts & Comparisons. Physicians from Europe/USA/Australia spent less time utilizing drug information resources (p-value of 0.013) compared to other nationalities. Conclusion: Preferences for different drug information resources did not vary significantly even amongst a diverse group of expatriate physicians licensed to practice in the United Arab Emirates.