Frequency and complexity of queries to an academic drug information center, 1995–2004

In 2004, Rosenberg et al.1 reported the results of a survey of pharmacist-operated drug information centers. The survey was sent to 151 centers in the United States and asked questions regarding the availability and nature of services; the goals of the centers; their affiliations, personnel, resources, and funding; and the education of personnel. Only 81 of the centers met the criteria for a drug information center, including the requirement that a center respond to a wide variety of requests from various health care professionals. The total number of drug information centers in the United States had decreased from 127 centers in 1986 to 81 in 2003. The centers in the survey varied in the services they provided (e.g., responding to drug information requests, preparing newsletters, participating on pharmacy and therapeutics committees) and in the number of questions received. Twenty-two (28%) of responding centers reported an increase in the number of questions compared with previous years, 36 (46%) reported a similar number, and 20 (26%) reported a decrease.1