A systematic review of the clinical and economic impact of drug information services on patient outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To establish what is known about the clinical and economic impact of drug information (DI) services on patient outcome.


METHODS
A systematic review and critical appraisal of world literature on work conducted by Drug Information Centres and UK Schools of Pharmacy.


RESULTS
Six relevant published articles were recovered--three from the UK; two from the US and one from Canada; just one was prospective in design. Four were single-centre and two were multi-centre studies. Four studies relied heavily on questionnaire surveys of the enquirer to establish an effect; only one monitored patient outcome independently and used peer review to assess impact.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and economic impact of drug information consultation and provision on patient care has not been investigated rigorously. A research methodology for such an investigation is suggested.
Hands
David
D
South and West Drug Information Centre, Southampton, UK. david.brown@port.ac.uk
Stephens
Martin
M
Brown
David
D
D000465:Algorithms; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom