Establishment of a Drug Information Service on a Public-Access Computer Bulletin Board

1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1224-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward M Bednarczyk ◽  
Kay S Kyllonen
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Bulletin Board ◽  
The Public ◽  
Drug Information Service ◽  
Instructions For Use ◽  
Lay Public

Objective: Computerized bulletin board services (BBSs) have existed for several decades; in recent years there has been increased use and acceptance. We have established a drug information service called The Pharmacy on a local public-access BBS, the Cleveland FreeNet. The goal of this service is to provide drug information to the lay public as well as healthcare professionals. Description: The Pharmacy is divided into 4 areas: (1) About the Pharmacy, which provides instructions for use; (2) Drug Information, which contains postings on selected drug information topics that are prepared by the BBS staff; (3) Pharmacy Questions, the most popular feature, where FreeNet users are invited to post questions, the answers to which are provided by clinical, staff, and consultant pharmacists, as well as baccalaureate and graduate pharmacy students; and (4) Investigational Studies, where patient recruitment for investigational studies is done. Results: A total of 259 questions have been posted in the first 3 years of operation. An average of 5.2, 7.78, and 8.7 questions/month have been posted in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively. Four drug information monographs have been prepared and posted, and approximately 5 investigational studies have been advertised. Conclusions: A computerized BBS is a new means of distributing drug information to the public and healthcare professionals. In addition to meeting a need for a public service of drug information in the community, it permits increased visibility for pharmacists and a unique learning experience for students.

Impact of the Dial Access Drug Information Service on Patient Outcome

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 585-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S Melnyk ◽  
Yvonne M Shevchuk ◽  
Alfred J Remillard
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcome ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Positive Patient ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Drug Information Service ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a drug information service on patient outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of patient-specific drug information requests. SETTING: Healthcare professional and consumer drug information service located at a college of pharmacy. PARTICIPANTS: Consumers and healthcare professionals of the province. INTERVENTION: Patient-specific questions received by the drug information service were reviewed and evaluated for actual patient outcome, inquirers' opinion of impact of the service with respect to patient outcome, and for objectivity and timeliness of the response. An expert panel determined whether the responses and recommendations given by the service were appropriate, determined what impact the service had on the patient, and assessed the seriousness of the inquiry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Classification of patient outcome by objective and subjective data based on predetermined desired outcomes. RESULTS: Ninety-eight and 68 patient-specific requests were received from healthcare professionals and consumers, respectively. The panel concluded that 94.9% of the healthcare requests and 98.5% of the consumer requests were answered appropriately and that the majority of the requests involved potentially serious drug-related problems. The panel also determined that 46.8% of the recommendations to healthcare professionals and 41.0% of the recommendations to consumers resulted in positive patient outcomes. The majority of the positive outcomes involved the prevention of a disease or its symptoms (professional section) and the reduction or elimination of symptoms (consumer section). CONCLUSIONS: The drug information service not only met its objectives of providing drug information in an accurate, objective, and timely manner, but was also able to provide positive patient outcomes.

Questions and Answers from the F.I.X.

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-496
Author(s):  
Dennis J. Cada
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Drug Information Service ◽  
Questions And Answers

The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X.) is an online drug information service available to subscribers of The Formulary Monograph Service. In this column, we present samples of recent dialog on The F.I.X. If you would like more information on The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., please call 800-322-4349.

A ‘Mini-Residency’ in Drug Information for the Practicing Pharmacist

1979 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 603-607
Author(s):  
Marianne F. Ivey ◽  
Gary H. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Drug Information Services ◽  
University Of Washington ◽  
Drug Information Service ◽  
The University

Continuing education “mini-residencies” in drug information services were sponsored by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy's Division of Continuing Education and the University of Washington Drug Information Service (DIS) in August of 1976, 1977, and 1978. Each mini-residency covered a two-week period (a total of 80 hours) and was divided into didactic and experiential sessions. The university's DIS was the major resource for the residents. The two-week residency was designed to provide education and experience in the areas of drug information retrieval, analysis, and dissemination. The program was assessed through pre- and post-testing and a midcourse evaluation session. The residency format of the program allowed practicing pharmacists to return to the university to develop their skills in the area of drug information. The article presents a model for other drug information pharmacists who may want to offer similar training programs.

Questions and Answers from the F.I.X.

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 370-376
Author(s):  
Dennis J. Cada
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Drug Information Service ◽  
Questions And Answers

The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X.) is an online drug information service available to subscribers of The Formulary Monograph Service. In this column, we present samples of recent dialog on The F.I.X. If you would like more information on The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., please call 800-322-4349.

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