*3. Additional Important Tertiary Resources

I suggest that you start by completing the following review of the 5 compendia and concepts covered in the previous session.    If you answer questions concerning the distinctive characteristics of the resources frequently, you will eventually have the characteristics firmly stored in your memory (and will not have to study as much for the quiz or exam).

Objectives:

1. Understand the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary resources and when each should be used.
2. Be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of print vs. online  tertiary resources
3. Know criteria for evaluating a new tertiary resource.
4. List the common tertiary references used to provide drug information daily in pharmacy practice. 
5. Given a request for basic drug information, locate and select the most appropriate tertiary reference for the information needed

When addressing objectives 2-4, this session will:

• provide information about the  print versions of the general, online drug information compendia you’ve already used,
• will provide information about another general compendia  (Drug Facts & Comparisons) only available at UNMC in print form, and
• provide information about the print and online versions of some specialty references available at UNMC.

Objective 1.  Understand the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary resources and when each should be used.

Primary Sources are original reports of research results or clinical findings

• Journal articles first reporting the results of studies or reporting individual cases.
• Conference abstracts and some conference papers
• Clinical Trial Registry records

Secondary sources help you find primary literature

• Literature databases (e.g. PubMed)
• Bibliographies (stand alone  bibliographies or reference lists at the end of journal articles and book chapters, etc.)

Tertiary sources  summarize primary and other tertiary literature

• General reference works like textbooks and compendia
• Point-of-Care resources like UpToDate
• Review articles published in journals and elsewhere.

When you receive a drug information question, it’s usually best to start with tertiary resources. ⭐  These summarize existing knowledge and can save you time.    The best approach is, thus, to consult resources in the order shown below

1. Tertiary resources should be consulted first (preferably topic-related, specialized tertiary references)
2. Secondary resources (to help you locate primary literature) should be consulted if tertiary resources don’t fully answer the question
3. Primary literature should generally be consulted when tertiary resources haven’t addressed a question adequately and after using secondary resources to identify the primary resources that may be useful.

Objective 2.  Be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of print vs. online  tertiary

Tertiary Drug Information Sources include:

• General reference books and compendia
• Specialty textbooks and compendia

Tertiary drug information sources contain information that is considered established fact

Tertiary drug information resources are often utilized for information regarding dosing, adverse reactions, drug identification, drug-drug interactions, administration, storage, background disease state information, and treatment recommendations

Many tertiary drug information resources are available in print and online, more and more are available online only

Advantages of print resources:

• a print volume is usually cheaper than a year’s license for the same resource
• available even when the internet goes down

Disadvantages of print resources:

• outdated when published
• often lack the bibliography sections that are included in online versions
• some are updated yearly, but not all
• bulky
• some are difficult to use  (give the printed version of Trissell’s a try)

Advantages of online resources:

• usually updated as new information becomes available
• usually include in-text citations and bibliographies (you can find the source of the information presented).
• usually easier to use

Disadvantages of online resources:

• expensive
• often internet dependent — (Some come with installable versions for mobile devices that are still available when the internet is down).

Objective 3 – Know criteria for evaluating a new tertiary resource

Occasionally you will want to buy a book or license an online resource for yourself or for your pharmacy

When deciding whether to purchase or license a resource, consider the following:

• What are the credentials of the authors/contributors/editors?
• Is there an editorial panel?
• What year was the reference published?
• Which edition is the reference?  

Books and resources that are NOT first editions may be a better bet:

• • Online resources that have existed for many years and  print resources that have many editions have survived because someone has found them useful — a good sign.
  • Also, first editions often contain more errors than subsequent editions.  Authors and editors sometimes miss typographical and other types of errors in any edition.  Those using the resource often report the errors and the reported errors are fixed in subsequent editions.  
• Does it contain a bibliography or reference list?  Are the important statements referenced?
• Is the information easy to find and read?
• Does the resource appear free from bias? (Are drugs from a specific manufacturer always favored?  Are new drugs favored over old drugs without any supporting evidence?)
• What is the cost of the resource?

Objective 4. List the common tertiary references used to provide drug information daily in pharmacy practice.  and Objective 5.  Given a request for basic drug information, locate and select the most appropriate tertiary reference for the information needed

Below are links that will allow you to download two tables.  These tables list the most important drug information resources and their characteristics.  You will be responsible knowing the information in red in both tables.

Please read through the information in red in the tables below. ⭐  Notice that some of the printed books are organized by pharmacologic or therapeutic class.  These books usually contain a section that introduces the class.  If you want a resource that contrasts members of a class or summarizes information applying to a whole class, these are the best resources to consult.

Table 1.  General Drug Information Resources.

You may wish to download the table.  It’s available for download using the following link:  general-drug-information-resources-2024

Table 2.  Specialty Drug Information Resources.

You may wish to download the table.  It’s available for download at through the following link:  specialty-Table-2024

Assignment Introduction:

1. Complete the exercise below.  It will help you decide which resource to use when you answer the questions in today’s assignment.  When filling in blanks, use the exact spelling and capitalization shown in the list of possible answers at the beginning of the exercise.  You may redo the exercise if you get an answer wrong, just refresh the webpage to start over.

3.  Assignment

• Download the 8 question, 3-page student-version-tertiary-references-assignment-2024
• Locate and enter the answers.
• Save the document with your answers and submit via Canvas.

Questions, Problems, Text Errors?

Before you leave, …

• Do you have any questions or do you feel that clarification of some aspect of the materials would be helpful?
• Have you noticed any errors or problems with course materials that you’d like to report?
• Do you have any other comments?

If so, you can submit questions, comments, corrections, and concerns anonymously — or with your e-mail (your choice) — through this online form .  Alternatively, you’re always welcome to contact Cindy Schmidt directly 402-650-5056, cmschmidt@unmc.edu, or by making an appointment to meet with Cindy via Zoom.

Answers to questions or requests for clarification that are submitted anonymously will be answered in Canvas on the “Discussions” page for this course.