@article{ref1,
title="Drug and poison information centres: an emergent need for health care professionals in Pakistan",
journal="JPMA: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association",
year="2016",
author="Khaliq, Asif and Sayed, Sayeeda Amber",
volume="66",
number="6",
pages="639-643",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the need of drug and poison information centres in public and private hospitals of Karachi. <br><br>METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at 3 public and 3 private tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, from July 2013 to April 2014, using a self-administered, multi-item questionnaire. Non-probability convenient sampling was used to select the participants. SPSS 18 was used to analyse data. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the 307 physicians, 282(92%) highlighted the need for a 24/7 drug and poison information centre and 206(67%) suggested opening a drug information centre at the hospital. Besides, 215(70%) respondents said they took at least 15 minutes for searching information about the drug while managing a case. Regarding the poisoning case management, 160(52%) physicians complained about the unavailability of medicines in hospitals. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Provision of 24 /7 drug information centres with specialised staff are necessary to reduce treatment delays and to ensure provision of quality healthcare.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0030-9982",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}