Pharmacy students' ability to identify potential drug-drug interactions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of third- and fourth-year pharmacy students to identify clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure DDI knowledge was disseminated to fourth-year pharmacy students in a school of pharmacy. A second questionnaire was distributed to third-year pharmacy students in 2 schools of pharmacy (schools A and B) and re-administered to students in 1 of the schools 1 year later. RESULTS: Class of 2005 fourth-year pharmacy students correctly categorized an average of 52% +/- 13% DDI pairs on the first questionnaire. Third-year pharmacy students at schools A and B correctly categorized an average of 61% +/- 18% and 66% +/- 15% of DDI pairs, respectively. The average percentage of correct responses for fourth-year students from the class of 2007 was 65% (+/- 17%). CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students' ability to identify important DDIs is far from optimal, even after completing experiential requirements.