PHCL 328: Introduction PHCL 328: Introduction to Drug and Poison to Drug and Poison

InformationInformation

Course Co-ordinatorCourse Co-ordinator

Dr. Abdullah K. RabbaDr. Abdullah K. Rabba

Lecture ObjectivesLecture Objectives

Define the term drug informationDefine the term drug information Describe the importance of drug Describe the importance of drug

information centers in the evolution of information centers in the evolution of pharmacy practice.pharmacy practice.

Identify the services provided by drug Identify the services provided by drug information centers.information centers.

Describe the skills needed by pharmacists Describe the skills needed by pharmacists to perform medication information functions.to perform medication information functions.

Identify major factors that have influenced Identify major factors that have influenced the ability of pharmacists to provide the ability of pharmacists to provide medication information.medication information.

definitiondefinition

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

Another way to define DIAnother way to define DI

Specialist/practitioner/pharmacist/Specialist/practitioner/pharmacist/providerprovider

Center/service/practiceCenter/service/practice Functions/skillsFunctions/skills

Poison informationPoison information

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

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

History of DI History of DI The term drug information developed in The term drug information developed in

the early 1960s when used in the early 1960s when used in conjunction with the words center and conjunction with the words center and specialist.specialist.

In 1962, the first drug information In 1962, the first drug information center was opened at the University of center was opened at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. An area Kentucky Medical Center. An area separated from the pharmacy was separated from the pharmacy was dedicated to provide drug information.dedicated to provide drug information.

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

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

in 1973, identified 54 pharmacist in 1973, identified 54 pharmacist operated centers in the United operated centers in the United States.States.

The individual responsible for The individual responsible for operation of the center was called operation of the center was called the the drug information specialist.drug information specialist.

The expectation was that drug The expectation was that drug information would be information would be storedstored in the in the center and center and retrievedretrieved, , selectedselected, , evaluatedevaluated, and , and disseminateddisseminated by the by the specialist.specialist.

Services provided by DI Services provided by DI centerscenters Support for clinical services Support for clinical services

Answering questions Answering questions Developing criteria/guidelines for medication use Developing criteria/guidelines for medication use

Pharmacy and therapeutics committee activity Pharmacy and therapeutics committee activity Development of medication use policies Development of medication use policies Formulary management Formulary management

Publications—newsletter, journal columns, websites Publications—newsletter, journal columns, websites Education—in-services for health professionals, students, Education—in-services for health professionals, students,

consumers consumers Medication usage evaluation/medication use evaluation Medication usage evaluation/medication use evaluation Investigational medication control Investigational medication control

Institutional Review Board activities Institutional Review Board activities Information for practitioners Information for practitioners

Coordination of reporting programs, e.g., adverse medication Coordination of reporting programs, e.g., adverse medication reactions reactions

Poison informationPoison information

Quiz 1Quiz 1

What services are provided by Drug What services are provided by Drug Information centers?Information centers?

why the development of drug why the development of drug information centers and information centers and

specialists was important?????specialists was important?????

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

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

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

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

Role of pharmacistsRole of pharmacists

Pharmacists today use Pharmacists today use knowledgeknowledge and and skillsskills to make clinical decisions to make clinical decisions about medication use in specific about medication use in specific patients or a group of patients in patients or a group of patients in conjunction with other health conjunction with other health professionals.professionals.

PharmacistsPharmacists used to play a pivotal role in used to play a pivotal role in research involving a variety of therapeutic research involving a variety of therapeutic topics including topics including medication use, medication use, optimal dose, optimal dose, drug interactions, or drug interactions, or adverse effects adverse effects of new or existing medications. of new or existing medications. Likewise, Likewise, publicationspublications in the area of in the area of

therapeutic guidelines or other drug policy therapeutic guidelines or other drug policy initiatives are frequently authored by a initiatives are frequently authored by a pharmacist, sometimes with support of the pharmacist, sometimes with support of the pharmacy professional organizations.pharmacy professional organizations.

The development of drug information centers The development of drug information centers and drug information specialists was the and drug information specialists was the beginning of the clinical pharmacy concept.beginning of the clinical pharmacy concept.

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

By using their extensive drug By using their extensive drug knowledge and expanding their knowledge and expanding their background in certain areas, background in certain areas, pharmacists could offer their pharmacists could offer their expertise as expertise as consultantsconsultants on on medication therapy.medication therapy.

The tool the pharmacist would use The tool the pharmacist would use to function in this capacity was the to function in this capacity was the clinical drug literature.clinical drug literature.

Medication Information SkillsMedication Information Skills Assess available information and gather situational Assess available information and gather situational

data needed to characterize question or issue data needed to characterize question or issue Formulate appropriate question(s) Formulate appropriate question(s) Use a systematic approach to find needed Use a systematic approach to find needed

information information Evaluate information critically for validity and Evaluate information critically for validity and

applicability applicability Develop, organize, and summarize response for Develop, organize, and summarize response for

question or issue question or issue Communicate clearly when speaking or writing, Communicate clearly when speaking or writing,

considering the audience level considering the audience level Anticipate other information needs Anticipate other information needs

Factors Influencing the Evolution Factors Influencing the Evolution of the Pharmacist's Role as a of the Pharmacist's Role as a

Medication Information ProviderMedication Information Provider

Adverse Drug EventsAdverse Drug Events

Integration of New TechnologiesIntegration of New Technologies

Focus on Evidence-Based Medicine and Focus on Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Policy DevelopmentDrug Policy Development

Sophistication of Medication TherapySophistication of Medication Therapy

The Self-Care MovementThe Self-Care Movement