The Awareness of and Adherence to the Pregnancy Prevention Program for
Oral Retinoids: A Questionnaire Survey in Denmark
Abstract
Purpose. We aimed to investigate the awareness of oral retinoid
teratogenicity and the adherence to the pregnancy prevention measures
related to oral retinoid use by physicians, pharmacists and patients in
Denmark. Methods. As part of the multi-country survey,
web-based questionnaires were distributed among Danish dermatologists,
general practitioners, community pharmacists, and women of childbearing
age, who were using or had used oral retinoids within the past five
years. Results. A total of 62 physicians, 96 pharmacists, and
50 oral retinoid using women responded; 95%, 100%, and 98%,
respectively, were aware of the teratogenic risks of oral retinoids. For
physicians, the most applied PPP measures were the usage of the patient
(44%) and the healthcare professional (19%) guides, while the least
applied measure was signing medication risk awareness form (3%). Among
the pharmacists, the warning sign on the outer medication package was
the most used measure (45%). Among the women, a majority (90%) had
read the patient information leaflet included in the medication package
and 72% discussed the use of contraception with their healthcare
provider, while risk awareness forms and patient cards were seen by only
few. Conclusions. In Denmark, physicians, pharmacists and
medicine users are aware about the teratogenic effects of oral
retinoids. Adherence to pregnancy prevention measures varied, suggesting
unwillingness to use the measures that require patients’ signatures
among physicians and a lack of awareness of pharmacy targeting measures.
Accessibility of the latter measures need to be optimized to improve the
safety of oral retinoid use.