title: Sources of information used to support quality use of medicines: findings from a national survey of nurse practitioners in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the sources, both print and electronic formats, which Australian nurse practitioners (NPs) currently use to obtain information regarding quality use of medicines (QUM). An additional aim was to document NPs' preferences for continuing education in relation to QUM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national electronic survey of Australian NPs was conducted in 2007 and again in 2010.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eighty percent of respondents accessed information on QUM from professional literature, which may include scholarly journal articles, reports, and independent publications. There was a decrease in the percentage of respondents who obtained information from drug industry representatives. NPs prefer to receive medicines information in an electronic form, rather than a paper-based version, and over the time period more NPs are utilizing electronic sources rather than paper.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide important insights into medical information products for the developers who may be able to use these results to ensure that their products meet the needs of NP clinicians. Additionally, the finding that NPs prefer to receive their continuing information related to medicines in electronic format, but also highly value conference proceedings, may help to inform future planning of NP education needs in relation to QUM.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stasa
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cashin
authors.forename: Meg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Sandra V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D000067490:Prescription Drug Overuse; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Nurse practitioners; marketing; medications; prescribing