Assessment of the Impact of Clinical Pharmacology Consultations Provided to Hospital Clinicians From the Drug Information Center—An Outcome Research in a Developing Country

Abstract

Background: Drug Information Center (DIC) with on-call evidence-based medicine service can revolutionize health-care practice and also can play a major role in health-care delivery in both developed and developing countries. Objective: To assess the feedback received from hospital clinicians for the newly initiated DIC services in a tertiary care hospital of North India. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted between January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. The clinicians approached DIC for specific pharmacotherapeutic questions for managing an index patient. After providing consultation, DIC followed up with them for the action taken and feedback on the consultation. The results of the data analyzed using Fisher Exact test and descriptive statistics. Results: Of 264 encounters, more than 98% of clinicians found the service satisfactory. There was a statistically significant association between the timely answer provided to treating physicians and their level of satisfaction with the service ( P < .05). There was no significant association between academic experiences and the satisfaction or dissatisfaction among the clinical fraternity colleagues. The interpretation ability of on-call pharmacology postgraduate students was a significantly associated factor with clinician’s satisfaction level ( P < .05). More than 96% of clinicians followed the pharmacotherapy advice recommended by DIC in their patient management. Conclusion: Thorough evaluation of published research needs to be taught to budding pharmacologists, pharmacists in their curriculum for an effective DIC service. DIC service has the potential to minimize the barrier of evidence-based medicine practice in developing as well as developed countries.