ATTITUDES OF HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS TOWARD PATIENT COUNSELING ON DRUG NUTRIENT INTERACTIONS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the attitudes of healthcare providers on drug-n utrient interaction (DNI) counseling. DESIGN: A mail survey. SETTING: Random sample of healthcare providers with interest in nutrition, prac ticing in Iowa or Nebraska. METHODS: A 48-item questionnaire was const ructed on the basis of a review of DNI literature. The survey was sent to 100 pharmacists, 50 registered dietitians, 25 registered nurses, a nd 25 physicians identified from culled mailing lists of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the Iowa Nebraska Soci ety of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Assessed variables included t he amount of DNI counseling provided, who is in the best position to p rovide DNI counseling, and what information should be included in inst ructional materials on DNIs for patients. Data were entered into a rel ational database for evaluation and comparison. RESULTS: The usable re sponse rate was 49.5 percent (n=99): 49 pharmacists, 29 dietitians, 18 nurses, and 3 physicians. Only 12 respondents provided DNI counseling in >50 percent of patient interactions. Seventy-one respondents (72 p ercent) felt pharmacists were in the best position to discuss DNIs wit h patients. More than half of the respondents felt a new DNI pamphlet should be developed to replace an existing Food and Drug Administratio n-sponsored pamphlet. Although 70 percent felt the new pamphlet should be organized according to specific drugs, many felt the format should also include specific populations and disease states. Eighty-six perc ent indicated that a chart on DNIs geared toward healthcare profession als would be useful. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-oriented resources should be developed to enhance DNI counseling. Pharmacists are in a uniquely ad vantageous position to provide DNI counseling.