Abstract

ABSTRACT: We surveyed internists, surgeons, and general practitioners in a six-county area of North Carolina to determine how accurate and accessible they believed ten sources of new drug information to be and how frequently they used each of the sources. Evaluable questionnaires were returned by 119 of the 336 physicians. The majority indicated that all sources were accessible. Commercial sources were thought to be less accurate than noncommercial sources, but were used more frequently (P < .0002), especially by physicians who had practiced more than 15 years (P < .02). Written sources were thought to be more accurate (P < .0001) and were preferred over oral sources of new drug information (P < .0004). Pharmacists and pharmacology textbooks were believed to be both accurate and accessible, but were relatively infrequently used.