Comparative evaluation of drug information sources

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box, 22452, Riyadh 11461, Saudi ArabiaThe purpose of this study is to evaluate two different drug information sources. This was achieved by comparing the time required to find an answer to a drug information question in addition to the easiness of use, comprehensiveness, breadth of information and cost of two different media namely CD-ROM database DRUGDEX® and the internet Search engine "ALTAVISTA". The study was conducted at the Drug Information Center (DIC) of the College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. One hundred questions were answered using both sources and the results for each question were determined. The mean time required to find the answer was 1.70 ± 1.19 and 5.05 ± 4.52 min, using DRUGDEX® and "ALTAVISTA" respectively. In terms of easiness of use, DRUGDEX ® easily answered 78% of questions versus 55% answered easily by "ALTAVISTA" (p=0.002). No statistically significant differences were found in the comprehensiveness (p=0.545), and breadth of information (p=0.102). Regarding comprehensiveness 77% versus 73% of the questions were well covered by DRUGDEX® and "ALTAVISTA" respectively. While breadth of information (availability of answers) was 77% versus 86% with DRUGDEX® and "ALTAVISTA” respectively. The study concluded that DRUGDEX® is a faster, more efficient search source than "ALTAVISTA" search engine because it provides the answers more quickly and it is easier than "ALTAVISTA" search engine however, DRUGDEX® cost per year is much higher than "ALTAVISTA" search engine. Regarding the comprehensiveness and breadth of information, both sources were comparable