Drug Information Services

Introduction

The term "drug information" was developed in the early 1960s and used in conjunction with the word "center" and "specialist".

• Over time, the specific functions of drug information evolved.

Answering Queries

Nonetheless, the bread-and-butter of drug information services (DIS) is answering enquiries from hospital-based healthcare professionals as well as from the general public.

• Listen to the enquirer carefully and get their name and number.
• When answering drug information questions, it is important to obtain the background information including pertinent patient factors, disease factors and medication-related factors to determine the true question.
• Knowing the most appropriate reference to utilise in dfferent cases is equally important.

As you start answering more complex enquiries, you may realise the resources provide conflicting answers.

• For example, the use of a particular drug in pregnancy is often a risk-benefit decision taken by the prescriber.

Important Functions

Today, drug information services include

• Supporting clinical services with drug information
• Answering questions regarding medications from patients and health care professionals
• Coordinating pharmacy and therapeutics committee activity
• Developing and educating health care professionals on medication-use policies
• Critically evaluating the literature to make formulary and patient-specific decisions (e.g. drug monograph, class review)
• Providing poison information
• Publishing or editing information on appropriate medication use through newsletters, journal columns, websites, e-mail, social media, etc.
• Providing education (e.g. in-services, classes, experiential education, journal club) for health care professionals, students, and patients.
• Participating in health outcome initiatives
• Coordinating formulary management initiatives
• Developing criteria/guidelines for medication use
• Analysing the clinical and economic impact of drug policy decisions
• Managing medication-use evaluation and other quality assurance/improvement activities
• Managing drug shortages
• Managing investigational medication use (e.g., institutional review board activities, information for practitioners)
• Coordinating of adverse drug event reporting and monitoring programs (e.g. adverse medication reactions and medication errors)
• Consulting on pharmacy informatics projects in the health care system setting
• Ensuring and implementing changes to medication-use policies and formulary decisions via informatics system

NOTE: For detailed information regarding these activities, you may read up Drug Information A Guide for Pharmacists.

Summary

Apart from answering queries from health care professionals, DIS department plays important roles in drug policy decisions and medication safety.