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                                    College of Pharmacists of Manitoba 
                                              Drug Information Resources (from NAPRA) 
                                                                                      
              Note: Pharmaceutical Press products are also available via MedicinesComplete: lb.ca/medicinescomplete 
           
          Introduction  
          Provincial regulatory authorities have outlined the required list of resources necessary for community 
          pharmacy practice. This unit identifies drug information resources that may not be stipulated in regulation in 
          each province, but which practitioners have nonetheless identified as very useful. Resources to assist 
          pharmacists in finding information and evaluating the literature are included as well, along with a complete 
          list of Regional and Provincial Drug Information Centres. 
          Standards of Practice  
          This unit supports Standard #3 of NAPRA's "Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Pharmacists". "The 
          pharmacist identifies, retrieves, evaluates, interprets, and provides appropriate drug and pharmacy practice 
          information to achieve safe and effective patient care."  
          Where to Find Drug Information 
          MacCara et al (1997) published "Drug Information Resource: A Guide for Pharmacists", a list of reference 
          sources that are useful in answering drug information questions. The sources are organized under 15 
          categories, which typify frequently asked questions. 
          The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) published "Recommended Drug Information References 
          for Hospital Pharmacists" in 1995. The list was compiled with input from hospital pharmacists and drug 
          information specialists across Canada and is still current. The list includes recommended references 
          (textbooks, newsletters, databases and journals) according to specific subject headings. The references have 
          been divided into three categories: Essential, Basic and Secondary. Supplier information and prices are listed 
          where available. The list is applicable to community and hospital practice and is available from CSHP. 
          What Did Our "Leading Edge" Colleagues Recommend?  
          Useful references identified by leading edge practitioners (in addition to references required by regulation in 
          their provinces) include: 
                   Internet access - drug/disease information and searches 
                   Compendium of Products for Minor Ailments 
                   Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments 
                   Compendium of Therapeutic Choices 
                   The Medical Letter Drug Interactions Computer Program / Drug Interactions Program on disk 
                   Geriatric drug therapy textbook 
                   Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation 
                   Facts and Comparisons 
                   AHFS® Drug Information 
                   USP DI Vol. I & II 
                   Ontario Pharmacists Association's Drug Information and Research Centre 
                   Medical Letter 
                   Pharmacist's Letter 
                   Young Koda-Kimble - Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical use of Drugs 
                   CPhA Self Medication 
                   Drugs and Drug Abuse 
                   Basic Clinical Pharmacokinetics 
                   Physicians Drug Handbook 
                   Goodman & Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics 
                   Advanced Herbology 
                   Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 
                   Martindale - The Complete Drug Reference 
                   EDI: Evaluation of Drug Interactions, St. Louis, MO Professional Drug Systems Inc. 1991 (a looseleaf 
                    format with updates) 
                   Handbook of Clinical Drug Data 9th ed. Knoden JE, Andersen PO editors, Stanford, CT Appleton & 
                    Lange, 1998 
          Regional and Provincial Drug Information Providers in Canada 
          For more information, please visithttp://www.safemedicationuse.ca/tools_resources/poison_centres.html. 
          Evaluating the Drug Literature 
          The department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University Health Sciences Centre 
          (1981) published a series of four articles to assist in evaluating the clinical literature. Articles are referenced in 
          the bibliography below. 
          1.       Sackett DL, How to read clinical journals: I. Why to read them and how to start reading them critically. 
          Can Med Assoc J 1981: 124: 555-558. 
          2.       Haynes RB. How to read Clinical journals: II. To learn about a diagnostic test. Can Med Assoc J 1981:124: 
          703-710. 
          3.       Tugwell PX. How to read clinical journals: III. To learn the clinical course and prognosis of a disease. Can 
          Med Assoc J 1981: 124; 869-872. 
          4.       Trout KS. How to read clinical journals: IV To determine etiology or causation. Can Med Assoc J 1981 
          124: 985-990. 
          Cuddy et al (1983) also published a series of articles to assist in evaluating the medical literature, referenced in 
          the bibliography that follows. 
          1.       Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part I: Abstract, Introduction, and 
          Methods. Ann Int Med 1983:12:549-55. 
          2.       Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part II: Statistical Analysis. Ann Int 
          Med 1983:12:610-620. 
          3.       Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part III: Results and Discussion. 
          Ann Int Med 1983:12:679-86. 
          The Internet as a Source for Drug Information 
          The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) maintains a list of information 
          resources for the public and health care professionals, available on the Internet. 
    How To File Drug Information 
    MacCara et al (1999) have published "Pharmacy/Drug Information: Where Do You File It?", a scheme to help 
    pharmacists organize all the ephemeral information they have collected/accumulated in the pursuit of 
    providing drug information to consumers and fellow health professionals. 
    In addition, the authors envision a scheme which pharmacists can download from the College website on the 
    Internet and adapt for their own use. This hierarchical scheme covers most facets of pharmacy knowledge --- 
    with the goal of categorizing and organizing the many topics in which pharmacists have an interest. 
    Bibliography 
    1.       MacCara ME, Foy E, and Bower J. Drug Information: Where do you find it? Division of Continuing 
    Pharmacy Education, College of Pharmacy, DalhousieUniversity: 1997. 
    2.       Recommended Drug Information References for Hospital Pharmacists: Canadian Society of Hospital 
    Pharmacists Official Publications 1997, Section Y4 
    3.       Fraser B. Major Drug Information Centres in Canada: Drug Information Centre Exchange: 1997. 
    4.       Sackett DL, How to read clinical journals: I. Why to read them and how to start reading them critically. 
    Can Med Assoc J 1981: 124: 555-558. 
    5.       Haynes RB. How to read Clinical journals: II. To learn about a diagnostic test. Can Med Assoc J 1981:124: 
    703-710. 
    6.       Tugwell PX. How to read clinical journals: III. To learn the clinical course and prognosis of a disease. Can 
    Med Assoc J 1981: 124; 869-872. 
    7.       Trout KS. How to read clinical journals: IV. To determine etiology or causation. Can Med Assoc J 1981 
    124: 985-990. 
    8.       Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part I: Abstract, Introduction, and 
    Methods. Ann Int Med 1983:12: 549-55. 
    9.       Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part II: Statistical Analysis. Ann Int 
    Med 1983:12: 610-620. 
    10.   Cuddy PG, Elenbass RM, Elenbass JK. Evaluating the Medical Literature Part III: Results and Discussion. 
    Ann Int Med 1983:12: 679-86. 
                                                            
                                            Updated by KW, February 16, 2015.