Lecture 11: Medicines Information Intro Flashcards
Why has medicine information retrieval changed since then?
Therapeutic explosion where:
- increased number of drugs
- different types and classes
- increased potency
- more complex formulations
- more reports of side effects
Followed by information explosion
- increase in literature freely available
- facts and figures: medline covers >5600 journals over 19million citations since 1949
Why has medicines information retrieval changed since many years ago.
Many years ago there were only a small number of drugs available
Most info could be found using reference textbooks and pharmacopoeias like martindale, British pharmacopoeia, pharmaceutical codex
What are the four different ‘types’ of drug names?
Brand name
Generic name
Molecular formula
Chemical structure
What kind of info do pharmacists need to provide on drugs?
Pharmacists need to be drug info synthesisers and provide medication info that is
Unbiased
Evidence based
Evaluated
Timely
On all aspects of medicine use
Which pharmacists need to provide medicines info?
All pharmacists. Including
Community Clinical/hospital Dedicated MI pharmacists Industry Primary health organisations PHO
What skills do pharmacists have that help them with this information retrieval?
A wide range of therapeutic knowledge
Ability to interpret and apply info
Effective communication skills
Easily accessible
What are the legal and professional obligations pharmacists have in providing medicines information?
Competence standards:
1) practice pharmacy in a professional and culturally competent manner
2) contribute to the quality use of medicines
5) research and provide information
What are the skills of the UoA graduate profile?
- competently advice patients and other health professionals on medicines and all aspects of their use
- utilise info technology effectively in the acquisition, organisation and presentation of scientific and health related info
- undertake structured problem solving, applied and practice-based research, and apply critical thinking skills in a clear and correct manner
Who needs info about medicines?
Non health care professionals like Patients/customers Relatives Caregivers Teachers/school staff Media Patient support groups Lawyers Police
What has changed in terms of patient access to med info?
They were historically assumed a passive role
however due to the increasing info available in the public domain, more medicines are available for
self care purposes and patients are now actively seeking info - usually via Internet, as it is easier to find.
Where do patients get medicines information?
Healthcare providers
Tv radio/ Internet
Newspapers and magazines
From people in the community
Who else needs information on medicines?
Health a professionals Pharmacists Doctors Nurses Midwives Speech therapists Dentists Dieticians
Why do other healthcare professionals need medicine information?
Info overload,- MI is our area of expertise
Need to keep up to date
Current aware was of media coverage e,g, advertising and media scares
There are Potentially biased info from drug companies
More drugs available meaning wider choice of medicines
What are the disadvantages of medicines info from the media?
Media can blow issues out of proportion
May only report certain aspects
May not have all the facts
What a the disadvantages of obtaining medicines info from family/friends?
Their info may not be scientifically based
Based only on own experiences and beliefs
Usually don’t have all the exacts
What works on one person may not work for everyone
