Knowledge and attitude of healthcare professionals toward medication pregnancy category systems in Saudi hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward systems used in describing the safety of medications use during pregnancy.

METHODS: A cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted in 4 tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between March and May 2012. The targeted HCPs were physicians and pharmacists. The survey was validated and contained 4 main sections. Descriptive statistics were used to report responses to the survey's questions.

RESULTS: A total of 393 HCPs responded to the survey, with a response rate of 97%. Half of the respondents were physicians. Of the participants, 60% were males. Most respondents (66%) stated that they have prescribed/dispensed a drug that may cause teratogenicity. Moreover, 87% of the respondents (48% pharmacists and 39% physicians) were aware of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pregnancy category, and most (72%) found it helpful. Only 11% of the participants strongly agree to use the European Medicine Agency (EMA) system for pregnancy category system as their main reference.

CONCLUSION: In general, HCPs in Saudi Arabian hospitals have good knowledge of and attitudes toward pregnancy category systems, with more familiarity with the FDA system. The FDA system is preferred over the EMA system.