Selected topics in drug information access and practice: an update

The area of drug information is broad and of increasing importance to all pharmacy practitioners. The efficient and effective use of the literature should not be limited to those individuals with specialized drug information education and training. Pharmacists must be familiar with the many sources of information available to them, including the expanding line of CD-ROM products and on-line databases. Drug information specialists should serve as consultants and facilitators in the appropriate use of these products. All pharmacists should have a baseline level of critical literature evaluation skills. Part of the responsibilities of drug information specialists should be to help educate practitioners in the acquisition and development of these skills and to assist with the actual analysis of clinical studies. Finally, pharmacists in all settings, in conjunction with drug information specialists, need to work to develop DUE and adverse event monitoring programs that will maximize positive patient outcomes.