Identifying Training Needs and Active Information Opportunities in Primary Care Through the Analysis of Drug Information Requests.

Introduction: Drug information (DI) services should work toward efficiency by identifying knowledge gaps and actively creating resources to address those needs. The aim was to identify training needs and active information opportunities in primary care by analyzing DI requests and to calculate labor cost associated with DI requests addressable with training or active information.

Methods: DI requests received in 2016 and 2017 by ambulatory care pharmacists were independently classified by 2 authors into: training (i.e., delivery of content meant to be retained as knowledge and used when needed); active information (i.e., resources created preemptively and consulted when needed); or passive information (i.e., not addressable with training or active information). Inter-rater reliability was calculated using Cohen's Kappa. Median time spent by category and across practice settings/professional types was compared using bivariate analysis. Thematic analysis categorized specific training and active DI requests and labor costs were calculated.

Results: Of 2,041 DI requests, 330 (16.2%) were classified as training, 454 (22.2%) active information, and 1257 (61.6%) passive information (kappa = 0.769). Median (IQR) time to resolve requests was 5 (2-10) mins for training, 5 (3-11) active information, and 10 (4-15) passive information. Pharmacists spent 132.1 hrs = $8,956.98 answering questions addressable with training or active information. Areas warranting training or active information included: controlled substances, immunizations, patient assistance programs, policy/regulations, medication preparation/administration, storage/stability, disposal, availability/ordering medications, and patient-related resources.

Conclusion: Several opportunities for training and active information were identified. Despite the single-institution nature, the method described can serve as an example for other institutions.