Title 22. ESTABLISHING A DRUG INFORMATION CENTRE.pdf ✅

PHARMD GURU Page 1  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:  WHO recognizes independent drug information centers as a core component of national programs to promote the rational use of drugs.  DRUG INFORMATION is the process of providing information on the safe and effective use of therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals.  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 centers 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. THERAPEUTIC ADVICE:  Many centers offer patient-related drug information as their primary activity. This requires an adequate understanding of disease states and therapy. ESTABLISHING A DRUG INFORMATION CENTRE

PHARMD GURU Page 3 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. 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.