Knowledge and Behaviors of Family Physicians in Düzce

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes on rational drug use of family physicians working in Düzce.

Methods: In this study, 114 family physicians in the 31 Family Health Centers in Düzce formed the universe of in the study. Sample was not taken. All physicians who agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. Physician Evaluation Form that consisting of 17 questions prepared by the Ministry of Health was used as a data collection tool.

Results: 106 family physicians participated in the study. 97 physicians (91,5%) attended post-graduate vocational training while 92 physicians (86,8%) were trained on Rational Drug Use (RDU). 75 of the physicians (82,4%) were educated by the Ministry of Health and 31 (34,1%) of the physicians were educated by the medical faculties on RDU. 21 (44,7%) of less than ten years of working physicians, 10 (22,7%) of more than ten years of working physicians were educated about the rational drug use given by the medical faculty (p=0,03). There is no difference between this groups in the RDU training given by the health ministry (p=0,34). Twenty-five of the physicians (23,6%) reported unexpected adverse effects. 94,3% of physicians use the information sources when prescribing. The most useful source of information for physicians when prescribing is the internet.

Conclusion: It seems that, the importance of to the training of RDU during medical education in medical faculties should be increased. Findings suggest that physicians use the internet more as a source of information of medicine and prescribing. Therefore reliable resources should be established that can be accessed easily over the internet and this resources should be introduced to physicians. Physicians do not adequately report adverse drug effects. The importance of the notification of drug adverse effects should be explained to physicians.