Pharmacy Literature Quiz

Literature of Pharmacy

• Kwabena Ofori-Kwakye, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Vice-Dean, and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics at FPPS, CHS, KNUST, Kumasi.
• Contact information (phone number, email) for Kwabena Ofori-Kwakye is provided.

Objectives

• Understand the attributes and differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary information resources.
• Recognize that tertiary information resources may exist in print, CD-ROM , online, or other formats.
• Know the various types of pharmacopoeias available.
• Understand the difference between a pharmacopoeia and a formulary.
• Understand various pharmaceutical information resources of Ghanaian origin.
• Know other information resources available to pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists.
• Competency in using information sources is essential in pharmacy practice.
• Students should be aware of different sources of pharmaceutical information.

Types of Information Resources

• Primary resources: research studies published in biomedical journals; most current drug information; original reports of scientific studies.
• Secondary resources: indexes and abstracts for primary resources; valuable tools for quickly and selectively screening primary resources; provide users with concise tools for accessing primary literature.
• Tertiary resources: core knowledge established from primary literature; accepted standards of practice in the pharmaceutical community; condensation of basic facts published in primary literature; examples include textbooks, monographs, compendia, handbooks, and published symposia.

Advantages of Tertiary Resources

• Commonly used because they are easy to use, concise, and compact.
• Often provide a review of the literature by an expert in the field.
• In hard copy or computerised versions (CD-ROMs), they are convenient and accessible.
• Drug information is divided into specific subject areas to make it easier to use.
• The information contained in tertiary resources is generally well-accepted within medical and pharmaceutical practice.

Disadvantages of Tertiary Resources

• Lag time (outdated editions), even in "new" editions.
• Space limitations that prevent extensive discussion of a drug or topic.
• Authors may emphasize limited information about a drug or topic.
• Updated or new information cannot be inserted into a printed (hard copy) tertiary resource in a timely manner.

Pharmacopoeias

• Pharmacopoeia literally means "drug-making."
• Officially published lists of drugs include directions for use and purity standards.
• Descriptions of preparations are called monographs.
• Usually published under governmental jurisdiction or a medical/pharmaceutical society.

Formulary

• A formulary is a list of drugs or collections of formulas for compounding medicinal preparations.
• Hospital formularies list all drugs commonly stocked in a hospital pharmacy.
• Pharmacopoeias generally provide more comprehensive information on drugs than a formulary.
• Sometimes the terms 'pharmacopoeia' and 'formulary' are used interchangeably.

British Pharmacopoeia (BP)

• Book of purity and strength standards for medical substances, products, and dressings.
• Assays and tests are 'official', along with directions, uses, etc.
• Published by HMSO Books (London) based on Medicines Commission recommendations (Medicines Act, 1968).
• First published in 1864.
• The official source of British pharmaceutical standards, used in over 100 countries.

British Pharmaceutical Codex (BPC) or Pharmaceutical Codex

• Encyclopaedia of drug information, first published in 1907.
• Prepared by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and published by the Pharmaceutical Press.
• Provides entries on disease conditions, pharmaceutics, surgical dressings, and formulae.
• Incorporated into the Pharmaceutical Codex since 1979.

European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.)

• Prepared under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
• Created to facilitate the free circulation of drugs within the European Union.
• Its standards can take precedence over those of the BP.

International Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Int.)

• Published by the WHO to provide recommended pharmaceutical standards for international use.
• Helps in overall quality control and assurance of pharmaceuticals contributing to their safety and efficacy globally.
• First volume published in 1951.

United States Pharmacopoeia & National Formulary (USP-NF)

• Official pharmaceutical reference standard of the USA.
• Published every 5 years with periodic supplements.
• Provides information on storage, packaging, labeling, reference standards, and assays.
• USP: Drug substances and dosage forms
• NF: Pharmaceutical ingredients.

Martindale's (Extra Pharmacopoeia)

• Authoritative reference book on drugs and medicines in current use worldwide.
• First produced by William Martindale in 1883.
• Provides detailed information on nomenclature, physical and pharmaceutical properties, adverse effects, actions, uses, etc.
• Published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain every 4 years.

British National Formulary (BNF)

• Joint publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and the British Medical Association (BMA).
• Standard reference for prescribing and dispensing drugs in Britain.
• Intended as a pocket rapid reference book.
• Includes a formulary for 'official' extemporaneous preparations and information on drug interactions, cautionary and advisory labels, etc.
• Updated twice yearly (March and September).
• Available on disk and CD-ROM, as the Electronic British National Formulary, and in an electronic web-based format.
• Includes notes on different drug groups to aid in selecting appropriate treatments.

Merck Index

• Provides information on chemical name, formula, and structure.
• Gives physical data and therapeutic category of drugs.
• Published every 6 to 10 years.

Remington's the Science and Practice of Pharmacy

• Helpful for extemporaneous preparations.
• Provides information on pharmaceutical calculations, chemistry, radioisotopes, etc.
• New edition comes out every 5 years.

Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG)

• Prepared by the Ministry of Health, Ghana.
• Current edition (6th edition) published in 2010.
• First 3 editions (1988, 1993, 1996) were published as Essential Drugs List & National Formulary with Therapeutic Guidelines.
• Last 3 editions (2000, 2004, 2010) published as Standard Treatment Guidelines.
• Assistive tool for prescribers, pharmacists, and other healthcare staff to provide quality care to patients.
• Lists preferred treatments for common health problems in the country.
• Designed as a guide to treatment choices and as a reference book for patient management.
• Useful for choosing appropriate treatments.
• Uses the Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (rINN), in line with WHO recommendations.

Ghana National Drugs Policy

• Prepared by the Ministry of Health, Ghana.
• First edition published in 1999.
• Current edition (2nd edition) published in 2004.
• Policy document to guide the pharmaceutical sector in Ghana.
• Developed following consultations with relevant stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Goal of making essential drugs accessible to the population, ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality, and promoting rational use by prescribers, dispensers, and consumers.

Ghana National Drugs Policy - Elements

• Legislation and regulatory control.
• Drug registration.
• Selection of essential drugs.
• Local manufacture of pharmaceuticals & traditional medicines (including herbal medicines).
• Drug procurement and supply management.
• Quality assurance.
• Co-ordination, monitoring, and evaluation.

Other Pharmaceutical Information Resources

• Pharmaceutical Journal (UK)
• Ghana Pharmaceutical Journal
• Ghana Herbal Pharmacopoeia
• Index of New Products
• Drug Tariff
• New Prescription Products
• Retail Chemists Trade Price List

Drug Information Resources - Some Local Organizations

• Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGh) (http://www.psgh.org).
• Food and Drugs Board (http://www.fdbghana.gov.gh).
• Pharmacy Council (http://www.pharmacycouncilghana.org).
• Ministry of Health (http://www.moh-ghana.org).
• Ghana Health Service (http://www.ghanahealthservice.org).
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) (http://pmaghana.org).

Drug Information Resources - Some International Organizations

• World Health Organization (WHO) (http://www.who.int)
• West African Health Organization (WAHO) (http://wahooas.org)
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) (http://www.fip.org)
• International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) (http://www.ipsf.org)