Background. The study objective was to determine primary care residents' kn
owledge of pharmacotherapy.
Methods. Eighty primary care residents at five Family Medicine residencies
completed a pharmacotherapy survey used to assess their knowledge of drug i
nteractions, adverse drug reactions, and new medications. Residents were as
ked whether they could benefit from more formal pharmacotherapy instruction
.
Results. Seventy-seven residents (96%) completed the survey Scores ranged f
rom 11 to 43 (22% to 86%) out of a possible 50. Scores showed no significan
t difference on the basis of sex or residency. The only statistically signi
ficant difference was between first and third year residents' scores. Third
year residents' mean score was 32.39 +/- 8.23 (64.8%). Ninety-one percent
of residents believed they could benefit from more for mal instruction in p
harmacotherapy.
Conclusions. Results suggest that primary care residents' pharmacotherapy k
nowledge may need improvement. Residents affirmed the need for formal instr
uction. Therefore, comprehensive pharmacotherapy curricula in primary care
residencies should be considered.