National Survey of Drug Information Centers Practice: Research and Publication System at Ministry of Health Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Objective: To explore the National Survey of Drug Information Centers practice in Saudi Arabia: Research and Publications at MOH hospitals. Methods: It is a cross-sectional four months national survey of Drug Information Services at MOH. It contained ten domains with 181 questions designed by the authors. It was derived from Internal Pharmaceutical Federation, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists best practice guidelines. This survey was distributed to forty hospital pharmacies that run drug information services. In this study, the domain Research and Publications System was explored and analyzed. It consisted of eight questions about the written policy and procedure and application methods for Research and Publications at MOH system in the drug information centers. All analysis was done through survey monkey system. Results: The survey was distributed to 45 of hospitals, the response rate, was 40 (88.88%) hospitals. The highest score of investigational drug services was a written policy and procedure for IDS did not exist in 23 (57.5%) hospitals while only 6 (15%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. The highest score of Pharmacy Professional Publications Services was the written policy and procedure for Professional Publications Services did not exist in 24 (60%) hospitals while only 6 (15%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. The highest scores of Pharmacy Ethical and Legal Issues was a Written policy and procedure for Pharmacy Ethical and Legal did not exist in 20 (50%) hospitals while only 7 (17.5%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. Conclusion: There was a weak implementation of Research and Publications system in drug information centers practice. An educating and training of drug information pharmacist on the Research and Publications system is required.in addition to setup up policy and procedures during the implementation of the services.