Twenty years' experience with drug information centers

The origin, growth, and development of drug information centers (DICs) are reviewed. The first center was established in 1962 to assist in a more selective and rational approach to drug therapy. Initial expectations and the development of other centers are described. Regional programs were initiated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Currently there are more than 100 centers in the U.S.; a recent survey revealed that 81% are affiliated with a hospital or medical center and 37.5% with a poison-control operation. Affiliations of DICs with pharmaceutical-education programs are increasing. The influence on pharmacy and therapeutics committees of DIC reports is discussed, as is the role of community-oriented DICs in promoting appropriate drug use. No generally accepted criteria for measuring the usefulness and quality of DICs have been established. Centers have been evaluated on the basis of number and type of questions received, but the growth of clinical pharmacy practice may affect these statistics. A peer-review committee has been reported, and physicians' attitudes about DICs have been surveyed. In the future, attention will be concentrated on funding sources and applications of computerized drug information and retrieval systems. Decrease in numerical growth of DICs and expansion of service to consumers are expected. As a link between pharmacy and therapeutics committees, physicians, and clinical pharmacy practitioners, DICs will assume a more active role in influencing drug-use policy.