Preceptors’ use of hand-held devices and use of drug information resources in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesTo assess the use of electronic drug information resources by the clinical pharmacy preceptors engaged in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) clerkships.MethodA total of 27 preceptors who had ever supervised APPE and IPPE clerkships were invited to participate in an online survey. A 29-item questionnaire consisting of three sections: respondents’ demographics, personal use of hand-held devices (HDDs), and use of drug information resources in different situations, was used to gather data. Data were summarized and presented using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe response rate was 66.0%. Eight (44.4%) and seven (38.9%) respondents had supervised IPPE and APPE clerkships, respectively. Overall, 16 (88.9%) of the respondents were active hand-held devices (HHDs) users; while 14 (77.8%) recognized the importance of HHDs to perform dose calculations. Almost all the respondents claimed to use primary, secondary, and tertiary resources to answer drug-related queries but preferred primary recourses over secondary and tertiary resources in certain clinical situations—e.g., to check the dosage recommendations for pediatrics, general medicine, and renal failure. However, surprisingly, most of the respondents were unable to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary resources for drug information.ConclusionThe use of HHD-based drug information resources was common among the clinical pharmacy preceptors. However, their knowledge about the use of appropriate drug information resources in certain situations was found to be cursory.