Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice of Chronopharmacology among Medical and Dental Resident Doctors from a Teaching Hospital

Background: Chronopharmacology focuses on how biological rhythms, particularly circadian rhythms, affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications.Understanding these principles is essential for optimizing drug efficacy and minimizing adverse effects.Despite its importance, knowledge and practical application among resident doctors remain limited.To assess the understanding and application of chronopharmacology among healthcare-related and dental resident doctors.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 200 resident doctors from both medical and dental departments at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Visakhapatnam.A structured and validated 12-item questionnaire (8 knowledge-based, 4 practice-based) was shared via digital platforms.Data on demographics, knowledge, and practice regarding chronopharmacology were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Among the participants, 60% were medical and 40% dental residents.While 90% understood that chronopharmacology concerns drug effects on biological rhythms, only 51% recalled formal training during their education.Most participants (97%) reported educating patients about the timing of drug intake, and 82% acknowledged that therapeutic efficacy and toxicity vary with administration time.However, only 42% had observed therapeutic failure due to improper timing. Conclusion:The findings reveal satisfactory conceptual awareness but limited formal education and clinical integration of chronopharmacology among resident doctors.These results support the need for curriculum enhancement and continuing education initiatives in chronotherapeutics for better patient care.