Assessing the accuracy of drug information responses from drug information centers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of response to a request among a sample of drug information centers and to determine the association between accuracy of response and individual center characteristics.


METHODS
A randomized telephone investigation.


METHODS
College of Pharmacy drug information center located in a 500-bed tertiary care teaching hospital.


METHODS
Fifty-nine drug information centers randomly selected from 154 centers that had responded to a survey.


METHODS
Each center received a telephone request requiring identification of Videx (didanosine), at that time a Phase II investigational product. Each center correctly identifying Videx was presented a patient case and questioned concerning adverse effect management. A written protocol of conversation was followed. Center confidentiality was maintained during data analysis.


METHODS
The association between correct information regarding Videx and individual drug information center characteristics was evaluated.


RESULTS
Fifty-six evaluable responses were received. Videx was correctly identified by 16 centers (28.6 percent). Two centers (3.6 percent) made an incorrect identification and 38 centers (67.9 percent) could not make an identification. Of the 16 centers correctly identifying Videx, four successfully linked the product with described adverse effects, but none offered therapeutic management recommendations. Factors significantly associated with accurately identifying Videx included possession of a center policy and procedure manual (p = 0.011) and on-line searching capability (p = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
These results identify an inconsistency in accuracy of responses among drug information centers. Although standardized operating policies/procedures and on-line searching capability may contribute to increased accuracy, there is clearly a need for enhanced quality assurance efforts.
Beaird
S L
SL
Department of Pharmacy, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, MO 63110.
Coley
R M
RM
Blunt
J R
JR
D016049:Didanosine; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States
D016049:Didanosine