- Learning Objectives
- Overview
- Starting Points
- Multipurpose Resources
- Drugs and Natural Products
- Additional Resources
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session (and with a little practice outside of class), you will be able to select and use an appropriate electronic tertiary source to answer drug information questions.
Overview
Tertiary resources are sources which generally provide an overview of a topic by gathering together information or summarizing the results of several studies. They frequently contain citations to document their information. They provide good starting points when one is beginning a search to identify the scope of the issue or problem.
One challenge you will face is deciding which resource to use first. As you become familiar with the resources and their contents, you will select your own favorites. The web-based tutorial Rx: Finding Drug Information can provide you with additional practice on selecting and using tertiary sources.
Starting Points
Consider using the table Resources by Topic from this tutorial as a starting point. This table is organized by question type and lists both first and next choices for finding information to answer that type of question. Another table, Resources Descriptions, provides more information about each tool.
The Pharmacist Toolkit pulls together a number of resources (tertiary and secondary) and is another good place to start. Contents here (and other areas of HealthLinks) change over time so checking back frequently is a good idea.
Electronic resources are licensed for the personal use of current UW students, staff and faculty. You are responsible for reading and abiding by the guidelines listed in the Responsible Use of Electronic Resources web page .
Multipurpose Resources
These resources can be used to find information about conditions, diseases, and medications.
AccessPharmacy
- Collection of textbooks, laboratory tests information, calculators, and news
- Includes Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine and DiPiro's Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiological Approach.
- Limited number of concurrent
users so log off when done and try again later if busy.
Clin-eguide
- Collection of books, guidelines (EBM, clinical and others), patient education materials and links to databases
- Drug information is from Facts and Comparisons
- Patient education materials are the McKesson handouts
MD Consult
- Collection of textbooks, journals, drug information, guidelines, patient education handouts, news and updates
- Drug information is from Gold Standard; Also includes package insert information and FDA information
- Offers customizable patient handouts for diseases and drugs
MedlinePlus
- NLM's database aimed at consumers for health and wellness information
- English and Spanish versions as well as "large print" and audio
- Includes health topics, drug information, dictionaries, interactive tutorials, directories and links to other resources
- Drug information includes MedMaster from ASHP, Natural Standard Online for natural products and links to FDA and ClinicalTrials.gov
- Especially good for quick overview, including statistics, of topics and for illustrations
Micromedex Healthcare Series
- Collection of databases that can be searched individually or simultaneously; which databases depends on your subscription
- Includes DrugDex and Drug Consults, IV Compatibility, PoisIndex, AltMedDex, Martindale's, ReproRisk, TOMES and CareNotes
- Lengthy bibliographies
- Instructions for citing are found under the Warranties & Disclaimers link
- Use for detailed information about medications (US and foreign) and natural products as well as exposures to chemicals, toxins, and poisonous animals and plants
UpToDate
- Evidence-based electronic textbook of medicine
- Lexi-Interact Drug Interactions program from Lexi-Comp for drug interactions
- Links from drug names to Lexi-Comp drug information within monographs
- Provides recommendations for good practice
- Graphs and tables may be exported to personal documents
Drugs and Natural Products
These are the starting points when you just want information about medications, supplements, herbs and other products.
AHFS Drug Information
- American Hospital Formulary Service produced by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
- Evidence-based drug monographs
- Organized by drug class; searchable by individual name
Facts & Comparisons
- Collection of resources that can be searched individually or simultaneously
- Includes Drug Facts & Comparisons, Nonprescription Drug Therapy, Drug Interaction Facts, Review of Natural Products, MedFacts Patient information
- Print version has been the gold standard for drug information for years
- Includes comparison tables for drugs by class or pharmacological action
- In general, references are included in the Drug Interactions section and in the drug class monographs but not in individual drug monographs
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database
- Comprehensive, evidence-based information about herbal and dietary supplements used in the US and Canada
- Produced by the publishers of Prescribers' Letter and Physicians' Letter
- Updated daily
- Several entry points, e.g. product or common name, scientific name, people use this for, interactions with foods, herbs, dietary supplements, lab tests, diseases or conditions
- Limited number of concurrent users so log off when done and try again later if busy
Additional References
- Malone, Patrick et al. Drug information: a guide for pharmacists. 3d ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. Health Sciences Library QV 737 D793 2006
- Snow, Bonnie. Drug information: a guide to current resources. 2d ed. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1999. Health Sciences Library Reference Z6675.P5 S64 1999
Work smart. Save time. Ask us!
Terry Ann Jankowski, MLS,
AHIP
Head, Information and Education Services
Health Sciences Libraries
Library Liaison to the School of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy and Department
of Rehabilitation Medicine
terryj@u.washington.edu
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/liaisons/jankowski/
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/liaisons/jankowski/pharm500_tertiary_resources.html