STAR-DDI

STAR-DDI = STandArdised Reporting checklist foR Drug–Drug Interaction checkers and databases

Aim

The PharmacoEpidemiology Research Group is leading an international initiative to improve the transparency, consistency and clinical reliability of drug-drug interaction (DDI) checker tools. In collaboration with the University of Liverpool Drug Interactions Programme, this project will develop the first expert consensus framework to guide how DDIs should be identified, evaluated, classified and reported across clinical decision support systems.

Using a modified Delphi consensus methodology, the project brings together an international panel of clinicians, researchers, regulatory experts and DDI database developers to establish best-practice recommendations for DDI classification and reporting. The resulting framework aims to support consistency, and enable healthcare professionals access to  high quality evidence based DDI information.

Rationale

Drug-drug interaction checker tools play a critical role in medication safety by helping clinicians identify potentially harmful interactions, especially in circumstances of large medication regimens. However, current DDI resources often differ substantially in the interactions they report, how they classify severity, the evidence they rely upon, and the recommendations they provide. These inconsistencies can contribute to clinical uncertainty, reduce confidence in decision-support systems, and ultimately affect patient safety.

Our research seeks to address this important gap by developing an internationally informed, consensus-based framework that promotes greater transparency and harmonisation in DDI reporting. By establishing agreed standards for evaluating the quality of evidence, interaction severity and reporting practices, this initiative will provide a foundation for improving existing DDI databases, informing future digital health technologies, and supporting safer prescribing practices worldwide.

Interested in collaborating in this initiative? We welcome engagement from clinicians, researchers, regulators and developers of DDI resources. Please contact the PharmacoEpidemiology Research Group at pharmacoepi@monash.edu to learn more about this project or opportunities for collaboration.