Assessing Awareness and Information Sources of Newly LaunchedDrugs Among Healthcare Providers in Primary and SecondaryHospitals of Sialkot
Abstract
Objective: To compare the level of awareness of new drug Lefamulin with healthcare providers in primary and secondary hospitals in Sialkot and determine the main sources of information that affect the awareness of this drug, as a case.Methods
Cross sectional survey was carried out on healthcare providers working in primary and secondary hospitals in Sialkot. The data on awareness of Lefamulin and the source of information about the availability of Lefamulin was collected with the help of a structured questionnaire. The data were examined to identify the level of awareness, the differences among professionals and the most common information channels which were used.Results
Out of 44 respondents, 43.18% reported being fully aware of Lefamulin, 25.00% were somewhat aware but required additional information, and 31.82% were unaware of the drug. Out of 18 responses, consultants demonstrated the highest level of awareness (44.44%), while out of 4 responses, 2 surgeons exhibited the awareness while 2 were unaware. Among information sources, pharmaceutical sale representatives were the most influential (used by 65.91% of respondents), followed by professional conferences or seminars (11.36%) and colleagues or peers (6.82%). Junior doctors and physicians relied more heavily on pharmaceutical sales representatives, while consultants utilized a broader range of sources.Conclusion
The study reveals significant disparities in awareness levels and reliance on pharmaceutical representatives for information about the newly launched medicines. Strategies such as enhanced use of professional conferences, medical journals, and digital platforms are recommended to bridge gaps, particularly for junior doctors and rural providers. Future strategies should focus on diversifying information channels to ensure equitable access to updated drug information across all healthcare sectors.Keywords:
Drug awareness, Lefamulin, primary healthcare, secondary healthcare, pharmaceutical sales representatives.Published
2025/08/23
Issue
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