Duloxetine Use in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence & Students’ Survey

The goal of this study is to assess the knowledge and opinion of students regarding the off-label use of duloxetine in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The Survey questions were provided during the Drug Information Course at Howard University (HU) College of Pharmacy in a class where first-year pharmacy students learn how to conduct a literature search and a survey. A total of 39 students responded to the survey. There were more females (n=23; 56.1%) with an age range between 18 – 24 years. About two-thirds (n=29; 70.7%) had a four-year degree before starting the pharmacy program. Overall, participants scored less than the passing 70% mark on the knowledge questions, which may call for educators to make a special effort to incorporate off-label and approved indications of medication teaching therapeutic-related courses. For example, more than sixty percent of respondents (n=25; 61%) incorrectly stated that duloxetine is a narrow therapeutic drug. The majority (n=; 34; 82.9%) of the participants responded wrongly that urinary incontinence is more common in women during their childbearing age. The opinion survey showed that most participants (n=25; 61%) did not believe there were many FDA-approved effective drugs for treating SUI. Over sixty percent of participants (n=25; 61%) considered SUI a severe illness and did not agree to use a non-approved drug such as duloxetine, although several published clinical studies support its effective use. Participants were split in their opinion regarding the non-approved use of medications. Study results suggest that students may need encouragement to explore medications with non-FDA approvals.