A question–answer pair (QAP) database integrated with websites to answer complex questions submitted to the Regional Medicines Information and Pharmacovigilance Centres in Norway (RELIS): a descriptive study

Objective To assess a question–answer pair (QAP) database integrated with websites developed for drug information centres to answer complex questions effectively. Design Descriptive study with comparison of two subsequent 6-year periods (1995–2000 and 2001–2006). Setting The Regional Medicines Information and Pharmacovigilance Centres in Norway (RELIS). Participants A randomised sample of QAPs from the RELIS database. Primary outcome measure Answer time in days compared with Mann–Whitney U test. Secondary outcome measure Number of drugs involved (one, two, three or more), complexity (judgemental and/or patient-related or not) and literature search (none, simple or advanced) compared with χ2 tests. Results 842 QAPs (312 from 1995 to 2000 and 530 from 2001 to 2006) were compared. The fraction of judgemental and patient-related questions increased (66%–75% and 54%–72%, respectively, p50% advanced) was similar in the two periods, but the fraction of answers referring to the RELIS database increased (13%–31%, p<0.01). Median answer time was reduced from 2 days to 1 (p