Introduction to Drug Information Quiz

Course Information

• Course title: Introduction to Drug Information (PHAR200)
• Institution: Lebanese International University, School of Pharmacy
• Department: Pharmacy Practice
• Semester: Spring 2023-2024

Chapters

• Medical Terminologies
• Drug Evaluation Monograph
• Pharmacist Patient Care Process (PPCP)
• Drug Information Resources
• Drug Consult
• Referencing
• Drug Information Center (DIC)
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Evaluation of Literature
• Evaluation of Journal Club
• Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines

Drug Information Center (DIC)

• Drug Information: Provision of unbiased, well-referenced, critically-evaluated information on any aspect of pharmacy practice
• Drug Informatics: Emphasizes technology's role in organizing, analyzing, managing information regarding medications
• DIC: Operational unit providing technical and scientific drug information for optimum patient care in timely manner
• Components:
  • Human: Qualified personnel
  • Material: Resources
  • Mean: Accessibility (phone, fax, email)

DIC Goals

• Stimulate effective drug information resource use by pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals
• Educate pharmacy students as effective drug information providers
• Expand pharmacists' role in providing drug information services to hospitals and communities
• Supervise and monitor the continuing education program introduced by the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon (OPL)
• Train pharmacists and students on using e-Library and online Continuing Education (CE) software
• Correct and update the Order's drug database

DIC Major Activities

• Drug Information:
  • Provide medication information to patients, families, and healthcare professionals
  • Monitor adverse drug reactions (pharmacovigilance) and medication errors
  • Educate providers on medication-related policies and procedures for optimal medication use
  • Maintain drug database
• Formulary Activities:
  • Prepare drug monographs
  • Evaluate new drugs
  • Evaluate existing drugs
• Publications:
  • Publish newsletters to educate patients, families, and healthcare professionals on medication use
• Staff Development:
  • Provide continuing education services to healthcare professional staff
  • Assist in planning and implementing clinical programs, affiliations between DICs and educational programs are essential to pharmacy practice programs
  • Develop training modules for pharmacists in clinical areas
  • Educate pharmacy students and residents
  • Develop and maintain an active research program
• Investigational Drug Program Activities:
  • Investigational Drug Services (IDS) maintains control and accountability of investigational agents (FDA approved and non-approved)
  • Complies with Good Clinical Practices (GCPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  • Complies with other regulations and laws as appropriate.
  • Assists with ongoing investigational drug studies
  • Ensures compliance with laws and establishes investigational procedures

DIC Considerations

• Equipment:
  • Telephone lines for immediate access
  • Computers with databases for management, retrieval, and communication
  • Documentation of questions and responses, preparation of reports for adverse drug events
  • Computerized medical records for assessing individual or population needs
  • Fax/printer & copier machines
• Specific area:
  • Located near the pharmacy department for easy access by pharmacy staff and other healthcare providers
  • Clear signage to direct appropriate personnel
• Personnel:
  • Specific criteria: Pharm.D., MS, or BS degree, specialized training, 1-2 years experience, residency or fellowship
  • General criteria: Computer skills, cooperation, confidence, accuracy, good English language
• Resources:
  • Tertiary resources (textbooks, handbooks)
  • Secondary resources (indexes, abstracts)
  • Primary resources (journals)
  • Pharmacist responsibility to maintain up-to-date resources

Systematic Method for Responding to Drug Info.

• Provide department and personal name when answering the phone
• Consider the background of the requester
• Identify the need by asking probing questions and reviewing medical records
• Assess urgency (never give a hurried answer even if urgent)
• Classify requests as patient-specific or not and by type of question
• Utilize resources (pharmacokinetics, toxicity, compounding, dosage, compatibility, etc.)
• Obtain complete background information
• Perform a systematic literature search
• Evaluate, interpret, and combine information from sources
• Provide consultations (written or oral)
• Ensure clarity and appropriate responses (numbers, etc.)
• Follow-up assessment of information utility
• Document requests, sources, responses, and follow-up

Documentation of Drug Information Requests

• Essential data to document:
  • Date and time of request
  • Method of delivery
  • Requester's details/category
  • Person assessing needs
  • Classification of request
  • Question asked
  • Patient-specific information
  • Response provided
  • References used
  • Date time of response
  • Person responding to request
  • Estimated time in preparation
  • Materials sent to requester
  • Outcome measures suggested
• Responses should be accurate, complete, and timely for maximal clinical usefulness and pharmacist credibility

Filing of Drug Information Requests

• Keep records of all questions
• Two filing methods:
  • Paper-based: using forms (information request, article search, ADR)
  • Computer-based: using special software (especially for DIC)
• Pharmacist responsibility to stay informed about latest advances and use tools to address requests involving pharmacotherapy and other issues.

Test your knowledge on the key topics covered in the Introduction to Drug Information course (PHAR200) at the Lebanese International University. This quiz includes questions on medical terminologies, drug evaluation, pharmacist patient care processes, and drug information resources. Challenge yourself and deepen your understanding of pharmacy practice and drug informatics.