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

2. 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

3. SOURCE OF DRUG AND HEALTH INFORMATION
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Mailing lists allow members to communicate via a list address
Sign up by sending an 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
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4. 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. 

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.