Original scientific paper
Sources of Drug Information Used by Pharmacists in Croatia
Tea Babić
; PLIVA Hrvatska d. o. o., Zagreb
Abstract
As a member of the healthcare team, one of the important roles of a pharmacist is to provide the patients and healthcare professionals with accurate and clear information regarding safe and effective drug use. However, quick developments in the area of medicine, pharmacy and associated industries are bringing new products to the market every day. Consequently, education gained through the faculty of pharmacy cannot satisfy all the patients’ and consumers’ needs for medicines information. In addition to the continuous professional education, the pharmacists need access to quick and up-to-date sources of drug information. This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional study on drug information used by pharmacists in Croatia and their knowledge of the black triangle symbol for the products under additional monitoring. The study took place in 2014, 107 pharmacists employed in the Croatian community and hospital pharmacies participated. The study results conclude that there is a need for education on the topics of Summary of product Characteristics, on the meaning of the black triangle symbol, and availability of evidence-based medicine databases (such as Cochrane) and database on drug use during breastfeeding (LACTMED).
Keywords
pharmacist; drug information sources; summary of product characteristics; patient information leaflet; questionnaire; Croatia; patient safety; drug use during pregnancy; drug use during breastfeeding; black triangle
Hrčak ID:
185276
URI
Publication date:
26.7.2017.
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