A Survey of Current Perceptions of Drug Information Practice and Training

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the current perceptions of drug information practice and training. Methods Electronic surveys were sent to 417 pharmacists who likely would have drug information responsibilities. The survey collected information regarding job responsibilities, perceived importance of each responsibility to drug information practice, type of postgraduate training received to prepare for responsibilities, and perceived adequacy of training. Results There were 206 survey respondents. The most frequently cited primary job responsibilities were providing instruction to students and staff, operating drug information centers, and responding to drug information queries. Most respondents felt that educational instruction, pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee support, and responding to drug information questions were very important to drug information practice. On-the-job experience was cited as the most frequent source of training. Of the respondents, 46% reported completion of a pharmacy practice residency and 40% reported completion of a drug information specialty residency, with 14% completing both. Fifteen percent of respondents had no postgraduate training. Most respondents felt prepared for current job responsibilities after postgraduate training, with the exceptions of information systems support, pharmacoeconomic evaluations, and clinical outcomes research. Conclusion Despite earlier recommendations, drug information job responsibilities within the study sample have changed little over the past decade. Respondents felt that most of their job responsibilities are important to drug information practice and that postgraduate training adequately prepared them for most of these responsibilities. However, only 40% of respondents received specialized training in drug information practice.