Drug Information Center

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

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