Drug information resources at private community pharmacies in Kuwait.

Objective: To investigate the drug information resources available in private community pharmacies in Kuwait.

Materials And Methods: Pharmacists at a sample of 20 private community (retail) pharmacies completed a self-administered questionnaire of available information resources and perceived appropriate information resources to answer five drug information questions.

Results: All pharmacies had at least one reference book but they were outdated. The Middle East Medical Index was most commonly found and three pharmacies had internet access. Half of the respondents reported getting medicines information directly from the pharmaceutical companies, usually through pharmaceutical representatives. Most pharmacists could identify appropriate information resources for drug dosing and drug interactions but did not fare well for medicine identification and primary research evidence.

Conclusion: The poor quality and outdated drug information resources in private community pharmacies will affect the quality of information provided to clients and prescribers and have an adverse effect on the role pharmacists can play in the health system in Kuwait.