The Internet and the World Wide Web CHAPTER 3 The Internet and the World Wide Web

LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this class, students should be able to: Explain and differentiate the source of drug, pharmaceutical and health information in WWW

SOURCE OF DRUG AND HEALTH INFORMATION Primary Secondary Tertiary Mailing lists allow members to communicate via a list address Sign up by sending an email request to the mailing list subscription address (Key Term) Messages sent Unsubscribe Newsgroups use the UseNet Most popular discussion group Located on a special network called UseNet Chat groups support live conversations IRC (Internet Relay Chat) favorite of many users Allow “live” communication in real time Communication by typed messages Lurking is good – Reading communications before contributing Helps potential participants understand the culture of the group Uses lists (instant messaging) to activate notification when live Must join, then sign on to participate Individual communication Group communication Mailing lists are more private than Chat groups Page 36

Primary Resources A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.  Publications that present the results of original research are considered as the primary sources since the study has not been interpreted or condensed or otherwise “repackaged” by other writers. Types of primary resources in science fields are: conference papers, monographic series, technical reports, theses and dissertations, or journal articles.  The works present new thinking/discoveries/results and unite them with the existing knowledge base. 

Primary Resources Generally published The base for 2nd and 3rd resources Available in printed version, published in scientific journals, CD-ROM and online Examples of pharmacy-related primary resources(journals): Pharmacotherapy, The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Journal of the American Pharmacists Association,  and American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists The benefits of primary resources: Provides new & current knowledge or information Upgrades the original knowledge/info Provides details of research methodology and scientific results & conclusion

Primary Resources Advantages Disadvantages Provides the latest information. Provides specific information about the individual studies. It is not practical to look for the topic needed in every journal through the list of the contents. Need to critically evaluate the information since the results and findings are based upon a single clinical trial.

Secondary Resources a secondary resources interprets, and analyze primary resources / indexing and abstracting services of the primary resources. Index - provides bibliographic. Abstract - a brief description of information contained in a specified citation. Can be obtained in CD-ROM, online, printed form. Examples of secondary resources: MEDLINE/PubMed  the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA)

Secondary Resources Example: MEDLINE MEDLINE® (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) is the U.S. National Library of Medicine's® (NLM) premier bibliographic database that contains over 16 million references to journal articles in life sciences with a concentration on biomedicine abstract/index system form Available in CD-ROM,online& printed version Free access from the internet

Secondary Resources Example: IDIS (Iowa Drug Information Services) Source: Iowa Drug Information Service, University of Iowa Combination of abstract/index system & info restoring system Contains info on drug, drug therapy, diseases, pharmacology, phamaceutical, drug side effect,etc. Updated every month Available in CD-ROM Can be subscribed through internet

Secondary Resources Advantages Disadvantages Online search is fast & efficient. Online database is more up to date than the CD-ROM. Can be used by all through the computer network. Complex, needs training and guidance in searching information as search techniques differ for each online databases. Online search is expensive.

Tertiary Resources General source an index and/or textual condensation of primary and secondary sources. Information in this resources can solve most of the questions Most commonly used source Examples: Textbook Computer Databases Reviewed articles Practising guidelines Compendium Encyclopaedias Fact books Guides and handbooks

Tertiary Resources Example: TEXTBOOKS Martindale’s Applied Therapeutics: The clinical use of drugs (KodaKimble) Pharmacotherapy : A PathophysiologicApproach

Tertiary Resources Example: DATABASES Example: REVIEWED ARTICLES Micromedex Computerised Clinical Information System Example: REVIEWED ARTICLES Produced from a variety of primer sources The author is an expert in a specific field Lots of references in one topic

Tertiary Resources Example: COMPENDIUM Collections of official statements produced by the authorities. British Pharmacopeia United States Pharmacopeia(USP)

Tertiary Resources Advantages Disadvantages Easily available. Information in languages & format that is easy to understand. Practical. Contains information of various topics. Latest information not possible to be inserted . Information is from the observation and interpretation of the author. Some references do not have bibliography.

Drug information resources from internet Internet is a good source to retrieve information on drug & health. Information are tailored for the use of the public, professionals or both. Different types of sources from the internet: General health information & pharmacy Martindale’s Health science Center: TheVirtualPharmacy PharmInfoNet Drug Database - Pharmaceutical Information Association

Drug information resources from internet Professional sites American College of Clinical Pharmacy American Associatonof Poison Control Centres Drug Information Sites CancerNet CutaneousDrug Reactions Database Poison Information sites MedWebToxicology Pesticide Poisoning Handbook

PHARMACEUTICAL RESOURCES IN WWW The Pharmaceutical Information Network, or PharmInfoNet, is a website specializing in new drug information. PharmInfoNet contains information of relevance to both health care professionals seeking technical information and the lay person wanting to know more than what their physician has time or willingness to tell them.

PHARMACEUTICAL RESOURCES IN WWW The site is extremely well organized, easy to navigate, and attractively designed. The major areas of content are: Drug Information, Publications, Disease Centers, Glossary, Medical Meeting Highlights, Discussion Groups, PharmMall, Pharmacy Corner, PharmLinks, Gallery.