Analysis of a hospital-based drug information center. 1977

G J Merritt, and W R Garnett, and F M Eckel

The operation of a drug information center (DIC) was studied after it was relocated from a school of pharmacy to a teaching hospital. The output during the last eight months in the school of pharmacy (Period 1) was compared to the output during a three-month period after the DIC became established in the hospital (Period 2). Questions were classified by type and profession or requester. In addition, the number of judgmental questions processed was determined. The average number of questions per month in Period 1 was 58.1, while during Period 2 it was 146.3. There was a statistically significant increase in Period 2 in questions from each profession, with the exception of clinical pharmacists. In Period 2, 30.8% of the questions were asked by physicians, 27.6% by pharmacists, 24.1% by clinical pharmacists, 12.3% by nurses and 5.2% by other professionals. The largest number of questions was in the pharmacological category, with toxicities or side effects as the largest class. The majority of questions asked by nurses were pharmaceutical. Of the 439 questions received during Period 2, 28.0% were judgmental. Pharmaceutical questions were found to require the least amount of time to answer, while therapeutic questions required the greatest amount of time. Judgmental questions required more time than nonjudgmental questions. It was concluded that increased visibility and accessibility of the DIC after its relocation resulted in an increased work load.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007255 Information Services Organized services to provide information on any questions an individual might have using databases and other sources. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Information Networks,Information Specialists,Services, Information,Information Network,Information Service,Information Specialist,Network, Information,Networks, Information,Service, Information,Specialist, Information,Specialists, Information
D010607 Pharmacy Service, Hospital Hospital department responsible for the receiving, storing, and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies. Clinical Pharmacy Service,Hospital Pharmacy Service,Pharmacy Service, Clinical,Hospital Pharmaceutic Service,Hospital Pharmaceutical Service,Hospital Pharmacy Services,Pharmaceutic Service, Hospital,Pharmaceutical Service, Hospital,Service, Clinical Pharmacy,Service, Hospital Pharmaceutic,Service, Hospital Pharmaceutical,Service, Hospital Pharmacy,Clinical Pharmacy Services,Hospital Pharmaceutic Services,Hospital Pharmaceutical Services,Pharmaceutic Services, Hospital,Pharmaceutical Services, Hospital,Pharmacy Services, Clinical,Pharmacy Services, Hospital,Services, Clinical Pharmacy,Services, Hospital Pharmaceutic,Services, Hospital Pharmaceutical,Services, Hospital Pharmacy
D004346 Drug Information Services Services providing pharmaceutic and therapeutic drug information and consultation. Information Services, Drug,Services, Drug Information,Drug Information Service,Information Service, Drug,Service, Drug Information
D006784 Hospitals, Teaching Hospitals engaged in educational and research programs, as well as providing medical care to the patients. Hospital, Teaching,Teaching Hospital,Teaching Hospitals

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