Abstract

SILVA, Cléber Domingos Cunha da; COELHO, Helena Lutéscia Luna; ARRAIS, Paulo Sérgio Dourado  and  CABRAL, Francisco Romero. Drug information centre: contribution for rational use of drugs. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 1997, vol.13, n.3, pp. 531-535. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X1997000300029.

This paper describes the first year experience of a Drug Information Center directed to the community, and managed by pharmacysts and pharmacy students from the Department of Pharmacy-UFC, in Fortaleza, Brazil. This pioneer experience recieves technical assistance from the "Centro Regionali di Informazione sul Farmaco-CRIF (Mario Negri Institute Milan-Italy). Those who consult us are registered on a codified formullary while individual information, questions and prepared answers are introduced on a database. From December 1994 to November 1995, 246 persons telephoned CIM-UFC for drug information of which 39% were medicine users, 32% pharmacysts, 17% patients relatives, 4,5% health students, 4% doctors, 0,8% nurses and 2,8% others. The principal questions were related to Adverse Reactions (28%) Indications (28%) and Efficacy (18%). The ATC 2nd level groups most referred to were vitamins, analgesics and antiinflammatory agents. The most frequent problems justifying drug use were classified as: Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders; Symptoms, signs and ill defined conditions; Infectious and parasitic diseases. Requests are increasing regularly, responding to the mass media campaigns related to drugs and active information is provided by bulletins.

Keywords : Drug Information Centre; Pharmacoepidemiology; Advice for the Patient.