Personal digital assistant-based drug information sources: potential to improve medication safety.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the potential for personal digital assistant (PDA)-based drug information sources to minimize potential medication errors dependent on accurate and complete drug information at the point of care.


METHODS
A quality and safety framework for drug information resources was developed to evaluate 11 PDA-based drug information sources. Three drug information sources met the criteria of the framework: Eprocrates Rx Pro, Lexi-Drugs, and mobileMICROMEDEX. Medication error types related to drug information at the point of care were then determined. Forty-seven questions were developed to test the potential of the sources to prevent these error types. Pharmacists and physician experts from Creighton University created these questions based on the most common types of questions asked by primary care providers. Three physicians evaluated the drug information sources, rating the source for each question: 1=no information available, 2=some information available, or 3 = adequate amount of information available.


RESULTS
The mean ratings for the drug information sources were: 2.0 (Eprocrates Rx Pro), 2.5 (Lexi-Drugs), and 2.03 (mobileMICROMEDEX). Lexi-Drugs was significantly better (mobileMICROMEDEX t test; P=0.05; Eprocrates Rx Pro t test; P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Lexi-Drugs was found to be the most specific and complete PDA resource available to optimize medication safety by reducing potential errors associated with drug information. No resource was sufficient to address the patient safety information needs for all cases.
Galt
Kimberly A
KA
Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68178, USA. kgalt@creighton.edu
Rule
Ann M
AM
Houghton
Bruce
B
Young
Daniel O
DO
Remington
Gina
G
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards*; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States