National Survey of Drug Information Centers practice: Leadership and Practice management at Ministry of Health Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To explore the National Survey of Drug Information Centers practice in Saudi Arabia: Leadership and Practice management at Ministry of Health hospital. Method: It is a cross-sectional four months national survey of Drug Information Services at Ministry of Health hospital. It contained ten domains with 181 questions designed by the authors. It was derived from Internal Pharmaceutical Federation, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists best practice guidelines. This survey was distributed to forty hospital pharmacies that run drug information services. In this study, domain of Drug Monitoring and Patient Counselling System explored and analyzed. It consisted of eight questions about the written policy and procedure and application methods for Leadership and Practice management in the drug information centers. All analysis was done through survey monkey system. Results: The survey distributed to 45 of hospitals, the response rate, was 40 (88.88%) hospitals. The highest score of the DIC had policy and procedures with a clear mission, vision, and values were Evidence of valid Saudi Council of Health Specialties license to practice in Saudi Arabia did not exist in 3 (7.5%) hospitals while 30 (75%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. The highest score of the Drug information centers had a space, adequate furniture, hours of operation were determined and announced as well as there was a qualified and licensed staffing. All Drug Information Centers staff had valid licenses from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to practice in Saudi Arabia, did not exist in 6 (15%) hospitals while 30 (75%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. The highest score of the Drug Information Centers Supervisor, reports workload statistics to the appropriate and leadership number of Full Time Employee staff and actual workload published was the answering question depends on the priority of the question did not exist in 6 (15%) hospitals while only 22 (55%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. The highest score of the Drug Information Centers showed evidence of Quality Improvement, and the process for Drug Information Centers Networking. The reporting any questionable drug quality to Pharmacy director, did not exist in 4 (10 %) hospitals while only 25 (62.5%) of hospitals 100% applied the elements. Conclusion: There were an acceptable implementation leadership and practice management in drug information centers practice. The drug information centers workload analysis and quality management should improve. Drug information centers network indication required an implementation to improve the services at Ministry of Health hospital in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.