title: Drug and poison information centres: An emergent need for health care professionals in Pakistan.
abstract: To determine the need of drug and poison information centres in public and private hospitals of Karachi.
  
  
  
  The cross-sectional study was conducted at 3 public and 3 private tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, from July 2013 to April 2014, using a self-administered, multi-item questionnaire. Non-probability convenient sampling was used to select the participants. SPSS 18 was used to analyse data.
  
  
  
  Of the 307 physicians, 282(92%) highlighted the need for a 24/7 drug and poison information centre and 206(67%) suggested opening a drug information centre at the hospital. Besides, 215(70%) respondents said they took at least 15 minutes for searching information about the drug while managing a case. Regarding the poisoning case management, 160(52%) physicians complained about the unavailability of medicines in hospitals.
  
  
  
  Provision of 24 /7 drug information centres with specialised staff are necessary to reduce treatment delays and to ensure provision of quality healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.affiliation: Alberta Health Services, Canada.
authors.forename: Sayeeda Amber
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sayed
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers; D010154:Pakistan; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011042:Poisons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011042:Poisons
keywords: Drug and poison information centres, Prescription, Physicians, Public and private hospitals, Pakistan.