Are educational materials on medicinal products reaching out and useful to physicians? A survey of Singapore prescribers’ experiences and preferences

Abstract

Background: Effective benefit–risk communication to healthcare professionals plays a vital role in promoting the rational use of medicinal products. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore has implemented Physician Educational Materials (PEMs) and Patient Medication Guides (PMGs) as educational materials to support informed decision-making. To evaluate their effectiveness as a safety communication tool, we sought to understand prescribers’ experiences and preferences with these materials. Methods: Invitations to an online survey were emailed to 387 healthcare professionals who had recently purchased the 22 medicinal products with requirements for educational materials in Singapore (“Purchasers”). The survey scope included their experiences with the receipt and usage of the materials, and their preferences towards the types of content and distribution channels for these materials. Results: The survey invitation reached 367 purchasers, of which 89 (24%) responded, including 66 who indicated that they had prescribed the surveyed products (“Prescribers”). Although only 47% of prescribers recalled receiving the educational materials, the majority who had used them found them useful in their clinical practice. However, the PMG was used less frequently than the PEM (59% vs 96%), and there was a mismatch between current and preferred distribution methods (mostly hard copies vs electronic copies). Conclusions: Prescribers who had received educational materials generally perceived them as being useful in raising awareness on treatment-associated safety concerns. The publication of educational materials on the HSA website and encouraging more routine distribution of PMGs by prescribers may improve their accessibility and facilitate safety communication on medicinal products to healthcare professionals and patients.