Open AccessReview of a Drug Information Service in an Indian Teaching Hospital
Author(s) -
Nibu P,
Ramesh M,
Parthasarathi G
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the australian journal of hospital pharmacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0310-6810
DOI - 10.1002/jppr2001312144
Subject(s) - audit , teaching hospital , drug , medicine , service (business) , quality assurance , medical education , quality (philosophy) , drug reaction , adverse drug reaction , family medicine , pharmacology , business , accounting , philosophy , epistemology , marketing
Aim: To describe a review of drug information activities in a teaching hospital in Mysore, India. Method: Drug information enquiry forms were reviewed for a 6‐month period. Randomly selected enquiries were audited by experienced clinical pharmacists. Results: 370 enquiries were handled at an average of 62 per month. Most enquiries were from doctors (52%) and postgraduate medical students (30% ). Questions most frequently related to administration/dosage (30%) and adverse drug reactions (27% ). Standard textbooks were used for 64% of enquiries. Of the 16 enquiries directly audited, 15 were rated as good or excellent and 1 as ‘can improve’. Conclusions: The service was well used. In developing countries, it is important to establish independent drug information centres beginning with basic resources. Output should be monitored with quality assurance programs.