| Abstract [eng] |
Title of the thesis: Attitude and Knowledge of Doctors and Pharmacists About the Teratogenic Effects of Medication Aim of the study: to assess the attitude and knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about the possible teratogenic effects of medication. Objectives: 1. To assess and compare the views of doctors and pharmacists on the possible teratogenic effects of medication. 2. To analyze and compare the knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about the teratogenic effects and safety of medication during pregnancy. 3. To determine the factors affecting the attitude and knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about the teratogenic effects and safety of medication during pregnancy. 4. To assess the knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about prescribing specific medication in various periods of pregnancy and to compare them among specialists. Methods: An analysis of scientific literature and research related to the topic was performed. A quantitative research method was chosen. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire. The specialists involved in the study were general practitioners (GPs), neurologists and pharmacists. The purpose of the questionnaire was to assess the attitude and knowledge of specialists about the possible teratogenic effects of medication. The questionnaire was compiled based on scientific literature and data published by FDA and EMA. Answers to the questionnaire were collected for 2 months after which they were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics software package version 25. Results: 350 medical specialists participated in the survey - 24 neurologists, 146 GPs and 180 pharmacists. 95.4% of respondents believe that when a woman becomes pregnant or plans to become pregnant, it is necessary to start considering the adjustment of medical treatment, and most (81.4%) consider the possible teratogenic effect of medication when prescribing/dispensing medication to women of childbearing age or pregnant women. 91.7% of respondents answered that the first trimester of pregnancy is the most dangerous period for the fetus. 86.6% of specialists answered that - valproic acid is most associated with congenital spinal cord herniation and other neural tube defects and 83.1% of respondents believe that lamotrigine is the safest drug for epilepsy during pregnancy. 88.6% respondents chose doxycycline as the medication most associated with tooth discoloration. 88.0% of respondents chose that warfarin has the most pronounced teratogenic effect among blood thinners and 82.3% of specialists believe that the safest blood thinner is bemiparin. 69.1% of respondents chose that benzodiazepines can be prescribed to pregnant women when there are indications, but the dose must be adjusted according to the time of pregnancy. 60.9% of specialists noted that triptans can be used during pregnancy only for the relief of acute migraine attacks. 76.6% of specialists indicated that NSAIDs were the drug group most associated with premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. 11.1% respondents chose that if a woman using antipsychotic medication becomes pregnant, the treatment applied until pregnancy should be continued. Conclusions: Doctors and pharmacists tend to consider the possible teratogenic effects of medication. The knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about the potential danger or safety of medication or medication classes during pregnancy is sufficient, since the majority of specialists chose the correct answers when answering the questionnaire. Specialists' attitude towards the possible teratogenic effect of medication when prescribing/dispensing medications was influenced by the length of service and the number of pregnant women consulted. The knowledge of doctors and pharmacists about the prescription of specific medication in various periods of pregnancy is sufficient, since the specialists, when answering questions about the most suitable periods of prescribing drugs during pregnancy, chose the correct answers more often. |
