Abstract
Given the overwhelming amount of drug information available, how should individuals go about finding reliable, up-to-date resources? This essay looks at the scope of information available and evaluates six commercial drug information databases and fifteen free electronic resources. For each, the focus is on currency, accuracy, cost, ease of navigation, search capabilities, and special features, among other factors. Brief evaluative statements are provided for each resource. Following a conclusion, the essay presents a short list of journal articles for further reading.
Introduction
Prescription medication use has increased substantially over the past fifteen years; consequently, pharmaceuticals are of growing interest to the medical community and public at large. The availability of online drug information has expanded dramatically, as has the number of health care professionals and laypeople seeking reliable sources of health and drug-related information. This essay discusses important resources—both freely available websites and subscription-based databases/newsletters. While those discussed do not represent a comprehensive list, all are in common use. Many are listed in evaluative guides such as the Medical Library Association’s PharmGuide at http://pharmlib.pbworks.com/w/page/41567022/PharmGuide. This overview of sources features relevant information for topical research and delivers reliable content for guiding the information choices of students, librarians, faculty, laypeople, and professionals based in the United States.
Kristy Steigerwalt is a clinical medical librarian in the Health Sciences Library of the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
An evaluation of online drug information resources parallels evaluation of general online materials. Each tertiary resource discussed in this essay was subjected to a systematic evaluation that included, but was not limited to, assessing its URL, domain name, author/editor credentials (when available), intended audience, purpose, funding organization, sources(s) of information, cost, currency (date of last update, among other factors), potential bias, ease of navigation, search capabilities, content, features, accuracy, links to additional resources, transparency, and availability of a mobile interface.
The purpose, authority, accuracy, and objectivity of a website are paramount to assessing reliability. Other important factors include reviewing the domain name for quality of information, ascertaining dates of last modification for individual documents, and reviewing the “about” section of the resource. This last section is distinctly important as it may indicate an affiliation with a pharmaceutical company or other commercial entity and tangentially a certain intrinsic bias. Additionally, while identifying board members and editors (and their credentials) is valuable, awareness of the sources of core information is essential. Evaluating individual pieces of drug-related information may be impossible or, at the very least, unfeasible; however, the credibility of information providers often gives a clue to information accuracy.
Other important elements of online drug information evaluation are currency and completeness. The US Food and Drug Administration approves new drug applications and biologics monthly. Without current, updated drug information resources, data may quickly become obsolete, incomplete, or inaccurate. What follows is a list of drug information websites and online subscription-based resources with corresponding descriptions and brief evaluations. This essay addresses commercial databases first and then free websites, with both sections alphabetically arranged for convenience. An “Evaluation” statement at the end of each overview indicates whether a resource is “highly recommended” or “recommended.” Readers will find that many of the resources discussed have a broad range of potential users.