Drug information service to community pharmacists: a survey of providers.

Abstract

As SUNCYS continue to demonstrate the weakness of community pharmacists'in-house information resources, the issue of external information support has emerged.' 3 Although research to date has been scant, some studies have indicated that the major institutions to which the community pharmacist turns for information support are libraries, drug information centers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with only the first two providing a broad range of general drug information services.2 4 7 A major issue which has yet to be investigated and resolved is the optimal institutional basis for such drug information support to community pharmacists. Drug information centers have the potential advantage of being staffed by pharmacists trained to advise as well as inform. Libraries (academic and hospital-based) have the potential advan-