The objective of this paper is to describe an approach for implementing information on impairing properties of medicinal drugs on driving focused on dispensing community pharmacists in the Netherlands. Present experiences in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands indicate that a categorisation system for medicinal drugs affecting driving performance can be used to sensitise health care professionals and the public. Data from experimental research show that within one therapeutic class of psychotropic drugs extremes exist at both ends: the least impairing or relatively safe ones and the most impairing drugs. Application of this knowledge could be facilitated by improving package inserts and existing warning systems. However, health authorities responsible for market authorisation of medicinal drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturers do not focus their attention on the impact of present warning systems on patients' attitudes towards driving if these patients use impairing medicinal drugs. Therefore other partners in health care need to be identified for participating in activities to improve warning systems. One group who is interested are community pharmacists, who develop more patient oriented pharmaceutical care in most European countries, Australia and the USA. Application of present knowledge for prescribing and dispensing the least impairing medicinal drugs to patients who drive is a first step in solving the drugs and driving problem with psychotropic medications. This paper describes a demonstration project in which community pharmacists implement prescribing and dispensing guidelines by application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their dispensing practices.
Abstract