Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following are considered tertiary sources of information?
Which of the following are considered tertiary sources of information?
Tertiary resources are always the most up-to-date sources of information.
Tertiary resources are always the most up-to-date sources of information.
False
What is a key advantage of using tertiary resources?
What is a key advantage of using tertiary resources?
Convenience and ease of use
Which of these categories of information are typically considered secondary sources?
Which of these categories of information are typically considered secondary sources?
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Secondary sources provide the original research data.
Secondary sources provide the original research data.
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What is the purpose of secondary sources in the context of medical information?
What is the purpose of secondary sources in the context of medical information?
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All literature published in a journal is considered primary literature.
All literature published in a journal is considered primary literature.
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What are some examples of primary literature used in the context of drug information?
What are some examples of primary literature used in the context of drug information?
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Which of these electronic databases is considered a secondary source for medical information?
Which of these electronic databases is considered a secondary source for medical information?
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A general internet search can be a helpful tool for finding information about uncommon diseases.
A general internet search can be a helpful tool for finding information about uncommon diseases.
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What is a key aspect to consider when evaluating the quality of online material?
What is a key aspect to consider when evaluating the quality of online material?
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Websites maintained by educational institutions are generally considered less credible than commercial websites.
Websites maintained by educational institutions are generally considered less credible than commercial websites.
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Match the following terms with their definitions in the context of medical information sources:
Match the following terms with their definitions in the context of medical information sources:
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Study Notes
Drug Information Resources
- Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources of information.
- Identify resources relevant to different pharmacy practice areas.
- Select appropriate resources for a specific information request.
- Describe the role of electronic resources in providing drug information.
- Evaluate resources to determine the appropriateness of the drug information.
- Describe appropriate search strategies for use with electronic databases.
- Recognize alternative resources for drug information.
Introduction
- The amount of medical information and literature is increasing rapidly.
- A stepwise approach is generally the best method for finding information: start with tertiary sources, then secondary, and finally primary.
Tertiary Resources
- Tertiary sources summarize and distill information to provide a quick overview of a topic.
- Examples include textbooks, compendia, review articles, and general information available online.
- This is the initial resource for identifying information as they give a fairly complete and concise overview of the topic.
Tertiary Sources «Literature» : Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Convenient, easy to use, familiar to most practitioners, initial resource for drug information.
- Disadvantages: Information may be out-of-date due to the lag time in publication, incomplete due to space constraints, errors in transcription, human bias, and less current information.
Evaluation of Tertiary Literature
- Evaluate the author's experience for appropriate publishing in the specific area.
- Assess the timeliness of the information based on the publication date.
- Ensure citations to support the information given.
- Confirm the resource contains the correct information and look for any bias or errors
Tertiary Resources: General Product Information (Micromedex® 2.0)
- Micromedex® 2.0 is an electronic resource for finding information about FDA-approved drugs (indications, off-label uses, pharmacokinetics, safety, and pharmacology).
- It has interactive tools for assessing drug-drug/food/supplement interactions, incompatibilities, and pharmacokinetics adjustments.
- Includes a section on drug toxicology for identification using imprint codes and discussion of overdose management.
Tertiary Sources: General Product Information (AccessPharmacy)
- AccessPharmacy is a platform for finding information on core curriculum topics, organ systems, and leading pharmacy online references.
- The eBook collection contains 22 textbooks, including: Goodman & Gilman's, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, Pharmacoepidemiology, and Drug Law.
Tertiary Resources: Other General Product Information
- Offers a list of websites for additional drug information resources (AHFS Drug Information, Clinical Pharmacology, Facts & Comparisons, Drug Information Handbook, Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, Physicians' Desk Reference, USP Dictionary, Epocrates).
Tertiary Sources: Adverse Effects
- Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs, Side Effects of Drugs Annual, provide details about adverse drug reactions.
Secondary Resources «Literature»
- Secondary resources index or abstract primary literature to direct users.
- Useful for keeping updated on recently published information on specified treatment or diseases
- Secondary resources do not index all terms the same, using a special research strategy (boolean).
Secondary Resources: Example Databases
- CANCERLIT (cancer therapies, quality of life issues) provides information about oncology therapies and quality of life issues.
- Cochrane Library (medical treatments, conditions, and alternative therapies) offers indexes of Cochrane reviews, abstracts of international systematic reviews, and a bibliography of systematic reviews.
- MEDLINE (basic and clinical sciences, nursing, dentistry) covers a wide range of health care disciplines.
Useful Resources for Common Drug Information Categories
- Provides tables for various types of drug information requests (general product information, adverse effects, dosage recommendations, drug interactions) linking them to relevant tertiary and secondary resources for each.
Primary Resources
- Primary literature consists of original clinical research studies and reports (published and unpublished).
- Review articles, editorials and other non-original publications are not included in primary literature.
- Includes controlled trials, cohort studies, case series and case reports.
Primary Resources: Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Access to detailed information, ability to assess the validity and applicability of study results, the most recent information.
- Disadvantages: Potential for misleading conclusions from one trial without context. Requires significant medical literature evaluation skills. Large volume of literature can require substantial time.
Obtaining Primary Literature
- Databases and systems link directly to the desired article.
- PubMed leads to NIH-funded research articles through PubMed Central.
- Local libraries are helpful for obtaining resources if open access is unavailable.
Alternative Sources
- Internet searches can help when standard medical resources are insufficient.
- Look for manufacturer websites to find detailed information about product ingredients.
- Look to news sources for information that changes rapidly.
Finding Quality Online Information
- Evaluate the source's credibility—no vested interest in the product or treatment promotion.
- Ensure accuracy and currency, and confirm if the site links to other reliable information sources.
- Check for proper detailing and references.
- Look for an author or contact to answer further questions.
Major News Sources Online
- Provides a list of news sources and their corresponding URLs to access recent news stories.
Consumer Health Information
- Consumer demand for health information is growing as consumers become more actively involved in health management and more technologically adept.
- Various sources provide consumer-focused health information.
Three Types of Literature
- Tertiary: Established knowledge.
- Secondary: Indexing/abstracting services.
- Primary: Original research
- Examples for each type of literature given to illustrate different types.
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Description
Test your knowledge on drug information resources, including the differentiation between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Explore the role of electronic resources and appropriate search strategies for effective information retrieval in pharmacy practice. This quiz will challenge your understanding of various resources available in the field.
