Title 22. ESTABLISHING A DRUG INFORMATION CENTRE.pdf ✅

PHARMD GURU Page 1 ESTABLISHING A DRUG INFORMATION CENTRE  A “DRUG INFORMATION CENTRE” is an area where pharmacists (or other health professionals) specialize in providing information to health professionals or the public.  The unique aspect of drug information Centre is that it draws together a range of information resources and makes them accessible to people who know how to make the best use of them. INTRODUCTION: 1) WHO recognizes independent drug information centers as a core component of national programs to promote the rational use of drugs. 2) DRUG INFORMATION is the process of providing information on the safe and effective use of therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals. 3) DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE can be applied to any activity where information about drug use is transferred and includes patient related aspects of pharmaceutical care. FUNCTIONS: 1) The primary function of a drug information centre is to respond to enquiries on therapeutic drug use. 2) Most centres provide services to health professionals and some also offer a service to the public. 3) In some cases toxicology information is also provided. Various functions of drug information centre are as follows: DRUG EVALUATION:  Assessment of therapeutic drugs is an important function of a drug information centre. The centre must have access to the principal medical and pharmaceutical journals. DRUG & POISON INFORMATION

PHARMD GURU Page 3 TOXICOLOGY:  Toxicology services provide information and advice on the diagnosis and treatment of poisonings. Toxicology services are best located within hospitals where there is liaison with clinicians who treat patients with poisoning. RESOURCES: Drug information centers should have the following resources for effective functioning: PERSONNEL:  The number of personnel required will depend on the range of activities offered and the hours of service. A centre should aim to provide a direct service during periods of major demand by its clients. MANAGEMENT:  Management is an important component of a successful drug information centre. A centre specializing in drug information requires coordination, monitoring and promotion. The manager’s responsibilities include:  Staff recruitment and coordination.  Training.  Promoting the service.  Identifying and maintaining appropriate resources.  Data management and reporting.  Quality assurance and improvement.  Liaison with colleagues, professional organisations (e.g. FIP Pharmacy Information Section), networks, university departments of pharmacy practice, and government agencies.  Strategic development.
PHARMD GURU Page 4 TEXTS AND DATABASES:  The centre should maintain its own library of commonly used resources. Additional books and other publications should be accessible in hardcopy or electronically from external sources.  An adequate literature search requires an understanding of available sources and their limitations, and training in the use of indexing terms and functions. FACILITIES: Basic equipment required for a centre includes:  Furniture -desks, chairs, shelving.  Communications -telephones, facsimile, internet access.  Computers -including external data backup, printer.  Software -for word processing, spread sheets, databases and presentations.  Photocopier.  Textbooks and electronic information resources. FINANCE:  A drug information centre should have an independent source of income and status guaranteeing its stability and objectivity.  Funding from external organizations cannot be accepted unless the centre’s neutrality is guaranteed.  Services should be provided free of charge to enquirers or through a contract arrangement which does not discourage appropriate use of the service to support quality healthcare.  Separate charges may be made for specific reports which do not directly relate to individual patient care.  Sufficient expenditure to maintain up-to-date resources is essential for the long term viability of the centre.