抄録
Objective: There are prescription medicines with design-like (misunderstanding) bisection lines although these are not admitted as bisection lines according to dosage instructions. We often find differences in identifying bisection lines among medical facilities in case of same tablets. We conducted a survey about identifying bisection line-like design on tablets by pharmacists and investigated the reason for the discrepancy in identification among information service facilities.
Methods: We conducted an online survey for pharmacists at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. We selected the discrepancies in identification among the facilities involved in drug information services.
Results: In this survey, 65.2% of pharmacists were aware of design-like bisection lines that are not permitted as bisection lines. Further, 30.3% could not confirm if these were real bisection lines or design-like bisection lines by judging only from their surfaces. The examination of two online media and a book offering drug information service showed different definitions depending on medicines. These entities say they have obtained information by their own ways of source from pharmaceutical manufactures and sellers.
Conclusion: Even for pharmacists, it is difficult to distinguish actual bisection lines from design-like bisection lines. The differences in identification among facilities dealing with medical information services are undesirable issues. Regulations by GMP or other legal methods are required for appropriate information control by pharmaceutical manufacturers and sellers.
