PHCL 328: Introduction to Drug and Poison Information Course Co-ordinator Dr. Abdullah K. Rabba

Lecture Objectives Define the term drug information Describe the importance of drug information centers in the evolution of pharmacy practice. Identify the services provided by drug information centers. Describe the skills needed by pharmacists to perform medication information functions. Identify major factors that have influenced the ability of pharmacists to provide medication information.

definition The term drug information may have different meanings to different people depending on the context in which it is used. If asked to define this term, one could describe it as “printed information in a reference or verbalized by an individual that pertains to medications”

Another way to define DI Specialist/practitioner/pharmacist/provider Center/service/practice Functions/skills

Poison information Poison information is a specialized area of medication information with the practitioner typically practicing in an accredited poison information center or an emergency room.

Similar to the mission of traditional drug information centers, poison information centers exist to provide accurate and timely information to enhance the quality of care of patients.

History of DI The term drug information developed in the early 1960s when used in conjunction with the words center and specialist. In 1962, the first drug information center was opened at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. An area separated from the pharmacy was dedicated to provide drug information.

The center was to be "a source of selected, comprehensive drug information for staff physicians and dentists to evaluate and compare drugs" as well as to provide for the drug information needs of nurses.

The center was also expected to take an active role in the education of health professional students including medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy. A stated goal was to influence pharmacy students in developing their role as drug consultants.

in 1973, identified 54 pharmacist operated centers in the United States. The individual responsible for operation of the center was called the drug information specialist.

The expectation was that drug information would be stored in the center and retrieved, selected, evaluated, and disseminated by the specialist.

Services provided by DI centers Support for clinical services Answering questions Developing criteria/guidelines for medication use Pharmacy and therapeutics committee activity Development of medication use policies Formulary management Publications—newsletter, journal columns, websites Education—in-services for health professionals, students, consumers Medication usage evaluation/medication use evaluation Investigational medication control Institutional Review Board activities Information for practitioners Coordination of reporting programs, e.g., adverse medication reactions Poison information

Quiz 1 What services are provided by Drug Information centers?

why the development of drug information centers and specialists was important?????

"Drug literature is vast and complex "Drug literature is vast and complex. The very problem of defining what constitutes the literature is difficult."

"Drug literature is growing rapidly in size "Drug literature is growing rapidly in size. It is also increasingly complex, i.e., interdisciplinary and interprofessional in nature. Thus, drug information 'sprawls across' many professional journals of the most varied types."

"Literature on clinical experience with drugs is sizable and is growing. Its effective use by the practitioner offers many difficulties."

"Competent evaluation of masses of drug information is particularly necessary."

Role of pharmacists Pharmacists today use knowledge and skills to make clinical decisions about medication use in specific patients or a group of patients in conjunction with other health professionals.

Pharmacists used to play a pivotal role in research involving a variety of therapeutic topics including medication use, optimal dose, drug interactions, or adverse effects of new or existing medications. Likewise, publications in the area of therapeutic guidelines or other drug policy initiatives are frequently authored by a pharmacist, sometimes with support of the pharmacy professional organizations.

The development of drug information centers and drug information specialists was the beginning of the clinical pharmacy concept. It laid the groundwork for pharmacists to demonstrate the ability to assume more responsibility in providing input on patient drug therapy. Pharmacists were provided the opportunity to extend their patient care contribution by taking a more active role in the clinical aspects of the decision-making process as it related to medication therapy.

By using their extensive drug knowledge and expanding their background in certain areas, pharmacists could offer their expertise as consultants on medication therapy. The tool the pharmacist would use to function in this capacity was the clinical drug literature.

Medication Information Skills Assess available information and gather situational data needed to characterize question or issue Formulate appropriate question(s) Use a systematic approach to find needed information Evaluate information critically for validity and applicability Develop, organize, and summarize response for question or issue Communicate clearly when speaking or writing, considering the audience level Anticipate other information needs

Factors Influencing the Evolution of the Pharmacist's Role as a Medication Information Provider Adverse Drug Events Integration of New Technologies Focus on Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Policy Development Sophistication of Medication Therapy The Self-Care Movement