Drug
Information Center
Content
• drug
information services and its importance
• Sources
of drug information
• Steps
involved in answering DI query
Objective
After completion of this lecture, student will be able
to:
• Explain
the importance of drug information service
• Differentiate
the sources of drug information
• Describe
the steps involved in answering DI query
• Outline
the requirements for establishing a DIC
Introduction to Drug Information Services
Definition
• Drug
information refers to the provision of unbiased, well referenced and critically
evaluated up-to-date information on any aspects of drug use
• Drug
information centre (DIC) refers to the specialised facility that provides drug
information to those who need it
Why Drug Information ?
• To
meet an indicated demand from health professionals
• To
support appropriate, cost effective drug use
• Enhance
the quality of patient care
Providers of Drug Information
Should be:
• Knowledgeable
about data storage and retrieval methods
• Able
to objectively evaluate scientific literature
• Able
to apply information to the specific patient situation
• An
effective communicator with patients, health care professionals, administrators
and the media
Drug Information Center
• A
source of selected comprehensive DI for health care professionals
• Stored
information is retrieved, selected, evaluated and disseminated in response to
specific questions
Drug Information Resources
There
are three sources
• Primary
(Journals)
• Secondary
(Indexing & Abstracting Services)
• Tertiary
(Text Books)
Primary Sources
Advantages
• Provide
the most current information
• Share
opinion with other health professionals
• Keeps
abreast of professional news
• Keeps
up with the new developments in pathophysiology, diagnostic agents and
therapeutic regimen
Limitations
• No
guarantee of accuracy
• Inadequacy
of articles are common
Secondary Sources
Advantages
• Valuable
tools for quick and selective screening of the primary literature for specific
information, data, citation and articles
• Provide
sufficient information to serve as references for answering drug information
requests
• Example-
medline, medscape, IDIS, Pubmed, Micromedex
Limitations
• Reviews
a finite number of journals
• Usually
describe only articles and clinical studies
• Abstracts
are generally interpretations
Tertiary Sources
Advantages
• Provide
easy and convenient access to a broad spectrum of related topics
• Background
information on drugs and diseases available
Limitations
• Gap
between recent developments and actual publication of books
• Omission
of pertinent data
• Misinterpretation
of literature possible
Internet
• Vast
amount of unregulated health care information
• Offers
both free and pay-per-view access
• Information
is accumulating at a tremendous pace
• Planned
search is more productive than simply browsing or surfing
Limitations
• Relatively
slow speed of retrieval
• Lack
of control over internet content
• Essential
to evaluate any facts critically
MODIFIED SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO ANSWERING DRUG INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
Introduction
• DI
services may use the systematic approach as the basis for responding to DI
inquiries
• These
approaches have application in any pharmacy practice area
• Use
of modified systematic approach offers practice-related advantages
• Considered
corner stone for ideal practice
Advantages
• Responder
is prompted to practice in a consultative capacity rather than technical manner
• Responder
will perform efficiently
• Selection
of resources may be more efficient
• Expanded
documentation could be very useful for the practitioner
Limitations
• Significant
improvement in patient outcomes or administrative decision has not been proven
• Substantial
energy expenditure in documentation
Steps
• Step
I – Secure demographics of requester
• Step
II – Obtain background information
• Step
III – Determine and categorize ultimate question
• Step
IV – Develop strategy and conduct search
• Step
V – Perform evaluation, analysis and
synthesis
• Step
VI – Formulate and provide response
• Step
VII -Conduct follow up and documentation
Step I – Secure demographics of requester
• Receipt
of enquiry
• Determine
more directly the requestor’s position, training and anticipated knowledge
• Mechanism
for delivery of the response
• Contact
address
Step II – Obtain background information
• When
background questions are used appropriately, the response to requests is very
efficient
• Should
be sufficiently comprehensive
• Should
be specific for the nature of the request
General background information
• Should
be obtained irrespective of the nature of query
• Requestor’s
name, location/ contact number & affiliation (if HCP)
• Resources
checked / used by the requestor
• Purpose
of enquiry
• Mode
of response
• Response
time
Specific background information
• Depend
upon category of question
• For example if the category of question is
serum or urine therapeutic levels
• Is
the patient currently receiving the drug?
• What
is the disease or underlying pathology being treated?
• What
was the source of sample (blood, urine or saliva)?
• What
was the timing of the sample relative to the drug administration?
• What
is the route of administration?
• What
were the previous concentrations for this patient?
Step III – Determine and categorize ultimate question
• Important
for effective use of the modified systematic approach
• Useful
in the resource selection process
• Availability
• Identification
• General product information
• Cost
• Investigational
drugs
• Compatibility
• Drug
interactions
• ADR
• Dosage
and administration
• Indications
• Poisoning/
toxicity
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Chemistry
• Drug
therapy selection
• Pregnancy
and lactation
Step IV – Develop strategy and conduct search
• Prioritize
the resources based on the probability containing the information / data
desired
• Resources
should be used based on probable efficiency rather than ease of accesses or
degree of comfort
Summary
• Drug
information service is important to meet an indicated demand from health
professionals
• To
support appropriate, cost effective drug use
• DI
resources include primary, secondary and tertiary resources
• Answering
a DI query should follow modified systematic approach which includes seven
steps
• DI
center should have a multidisciplinary team and adequate resources
