Co-prescription of gastro-protectants in hospitalized patients: an analysis of what we do and what we think we do.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) associated with the use of many medications.

Goals: To examine how clinicians perceive such risk and whether PPI co-prescribing is based on an accurate assessment.

Study Methods: Clinicians in a single teaching hospital were asked to estimate risk of UGIH and comment on PPI co-prescription in hypothetical patients.