PHARMACY INFORMATICS LEC - Unit 2.3: Disseminating Drug Information

Analysis

• Breaking down a whole into its parts

• Critical assessment of the nature, merit, and significance of individual elements, ideas, or factors

• Involves separating the information into its isolated parts

• Requires thoughtful review and evaluation of the quality of evidence

Synthesis

• Putting together parts to get a whole

• Process of combining or blending diverse elements, ideas, or factors into a coherent response

• Responses by integrating data from diverse sources through logic and deductive reasoning

• Can give existing information new meaning

• Can create new knowledge

Response

• Should answer/address question of a requestor

• Must include a restatement of the request

• \Must have a clear indication of problems, issues, and circumstances

• Should begin with an introduction to the topic

• Should systematically present the findings

• Disclose available information that is most relevant to the question

• Present all reasonable options and alternatives with explanations

Desired Characteristics of a Response

• Timely

• Current

• Accurate

• Complete

• Concise

• Supported by the best available evidence

• Well-referenced

• Clear and logical

• Objective and balanced

• Free of bias or flaws

• Applicable and appropriate for specific circumstances

• Answers important related questions (follow-up)

• Addresses specific management of patients or situations

• Considers local regulations, policies, and formulary

Recommendation

• Also included in the response along with pertinent reference citations

• Must be scientifically sound, evidence-based, clearly justifies, and well-documented

• A carefully-written record of the response must be maintained for follow-up and legal reasons

Follow-up

• Process of verifying the appropriateness, correctness, and completeness of a response

• Required for outcomes assessment to reevaluate and make appropriate modifications

• Demonstrates the pharmacist’s commitment to patient care

Follow Through and Documentation

• Process of readdressing a request based on the availability of new data or change

• Should be based on the type of the request and use

Independent Active

• Likely to understand health information easily

• More likely to seek health information from multiple sources

Doctor-Dependent Active

• Usually have more difficulty in understanding health information

• More reliant on people whom they consider as experts

Independent Passive

• Less engaged in health enhancement

• Value health less

• Not likely to seek advice

Doctor-Dependent Passive

• Not very engaged, but seek advice from doctors when necessary

• They don’t have much questions

• Follows advice of doctors

Individual/Personal Health Literacy

Degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others

Organization Health Literacy

Degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others

Health literacy skills enable people to:

1. Find information and services (easily)

2. Respond to information and services by communicating their needs and preferences

3. Process the meaning and usefulness of the information or services

4. Understand the choices, consequences, and context of the information and services

5. Decide which information and services match their needs and preferences, enabling action (decision-making)

Risk Factors for Low Health Literacy

• Low income level

• Chronic illness

• Disability

• Older age

• English as second language

• Racial or ethnic minority

• Low education level

Use of Plain Language

1. Write for your audience

2. Organize the information

3. Chunk information

4. Be concise

5. Use concrete, familiar words

6. Write in a conversational voice

7. Use the active voice

Use Visuals to Aid Communication

• Choose images that convey your main message

• Make sure the meaning of your image is clear to all users

• Use clear headings, labels, and captions

• Use simple, realistic pictures

• Beware of variations in interpretation of standard images