Introduction to Drug

Information and Informatics

Genevieve Lynn (Ness) Engle, PharmD
 Treatment
Guidelines
New Drug
Products
Old Drug
Products

Pharmacy
Drug Practice Laws
Shortages

Dietary
Current
Supplements
Literature
Definitions
 Drug/Medication Information
 Management and use of information on medication therapy
 Signifies broader role of all pharmacists in providing
information

 Informatics
 Emphasizes the use of technology as an integral tool in
effectively organizing, analyzing, and managing information on
medication use in patients
Definitions (continued…)
Evidence-Based Medicine…
…an approach to practice and teaching that integrates…

Current Clinical
Pathophysiologic Professional Patient
Research
Rationale Expertise Preferences
Evidence

… to make decisions for a population

 A Systematic Approach to
Answering Drug Information Questions
1. Receive

8. Follow-up 2. Expand

7.
Communicat 3. Classify
e

6. Formulate 4. Search

5. Evaluate

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 15.
 1. Receive

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 17.
 2. Expand (Background Information)

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 18.
Questions for Obtaining Background
Information (See Appendix 2-2)
 Name
 Contact information: phone number/location
 Affiliation (institution or practice) if healthcare professional
 Profession or occupation
 Resources already consulted
 Patient specific or academic
 Patient diagnosis, other medications, pertinent medical
information
 Urgency of the request
3. Classify the Request (Table 3-2)
 General Product Information (Monographs)  International Drug Equivalency
(a.k.a., Foreign Drug Identification)
 Adverse Effects
 Product Identification (Drug
 Availability Identification, Domestic)
 Compounding/Formulations  Pharmacokinetics
 Dietary supplements (Natural Products,  Pharmacology
Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
 Pharmacy Law
 Drug Interactions
 Rate/Method of Drug
 Drug-Laboratory Interference (Drug Screening) Administration
 Dosage Recommendations  Teratogenicity/Lactation (a.k.a.
 Renal impairment Pregnancy and Lactation)

 Hepatic impairment  Therapy Evaluation/Drugs of Choice

(a.k.a. Therapeutics)
 Geriatrics
 Toxicology Information (a.k.a.
 Pediatrics Poison Information)
 Investigational Drug Information  Veterinary Medicine
 Incompatibility/Stability (Compatibility/Stability)
 Next…

1. Receive

8. Follow-up 2. Expand

7.
Communicat 3. Classify
e

6. Formulate 4. Search

5. Evaluate

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 15.
4. Search - Types of Literature
Ter •
•
Summarizes primary literature
Smaller volume of material

tia •
•
Longer lag time
Examples: Textbooks, review articles, some databases

ry
• Indexes primary literature
• Variable lag time
Secondary • Examples: PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Scholar

• Original research and/or observation

• Large volume of material
• Shortest lag time
Primary • Examples: clinical trials, case reports,
case-control or cohort studies
4. Search – General Search Strategy

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 27.
Specialty Tertiary Resources
 Must consider question classification
 Potential advantages
 Specific/Detailed
 Authoritative
 Efficient source
 Potential disadvantages
 Expensive to maintain
 Unfamiliarity
 Next…
1. Receive

8. Follow-up 2. Expand

7.
3. Classify
Communicate

6. Formulate 4. Search

5. Evaluate

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 15.
Table 2-4. Desired Response
Timely

Current

Accurate

Complete

Concise

Well referenced

Clear and logical

Objective and balanced

Free of bias or flaws

Applicable and appropriate for specific circumstances

Answers important related questions

Addresses specific management of patients or situations

 Last…
1. Receive

8. Follow-up 2. Expand

7.
3. Classify
Communicate

6. Formulate 4. Search

5. Evaluate

Gaebelin CJ, Gleason BL. Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence Based Approach. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p 15.