EFFECTS OF A FACEBOOK PROFILE DEVOTED TO DRUG USE IN PREGNANCY ON THE DISCOVERY OF INAPPROPRIATE DRUG USE BY PREGNANT FEMALES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS
Background. Although online social networking is increasingly used for medical purposes, studies investigating drug use among pregnant females by means of online networks are lacking. Objective. Th e aim of our study was to investigate the extent of inappropriate drug use among pregnant women by creating a Facebook profi le and using it as a tool for interacting with pregnant women. Methods. A Facebook profi le titled “Preserve babies from drugs” was created and maintained by a group of fourth-year pharmacy students for 3 months. Introductory educational material about the principles of drug use in pregnancy, information about health facilities off ering counselling about pregnancy, information about a clinical pharmacology department that off ered counselling and an open-ended questionnaire were posted in the “Notes” section of the Facebook profi le. Results. Of 239 registered pregnant “friends” of the profi le who received the questionnaire from the investigators, 93 responded (39%). Among the respondents, 50 pregnant women (53.8%) reported taking medication(s) during their current pregnancy, and 42 of the respondents reported using one or more drugs improperly. Th e most frequently used drugs were multivitamin and multi-mineral preparations, oral antibiotics, parenteral progesterone and benzodiazepines. Conclusions. Th e Facebook profi le devoted to drug use in pregnancy could be a useful adjunct to eff orts by offi cial health care institutions to identify inappropriate drug use and educate pregnant women appropriately.