Evaluating healthcare professionals’ perceptions of medicine risk communications: A survey with Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses

Background Effective medicine risk communication is a cornerstone of patient safety. Although safety information is routinely disseminated to healthcare professionals (HCPs), limited evidence exists on how these communications are perceived and acted upon in clinical practice. Objective To assess how national medicine risk communications are distributed and utilized by doctors and pharmacists, and to explore key behavioural and perceptual factors influencing engagement with these communications. Methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study employed the DENS (Distribution, rEach, coNtent, utiliSation) questionnaire. The survey was distributed online to all registered doctors and pharmacists in Ireland via regulatory mailing lists. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, non-parametric tests, and exploratory factor analysis; qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Results Of 622 responses (431 complete), most participants trusted the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) was preferred over and Drug Safety Newsletter (DSN) as a communication channel. Engagement was shaped by trust, relevance, clarity, and format, while barriers included time constraints, perceived impracticality, and habitual practice. Digital formats were strongly favoured for accessibility. Subgroup analyses revealed differences by gender, clinical setting, and professional role in preferences and compliance behaviours. Conclusions Medicine risk communication must extend beyond information delivery to become concise, role-relevant, and behaviourally informed. Tailoring content to professional contexts and addressing barriers such as time pressure and entrenched habits can improve uptake and patient safety outcomes. Findings highlight the need for adaptive, user-centred communication strategies integrated into safety management systems.