PAHO establishes
guidelines that must be met by drug information centers (DIC)
and the drug information services (DIS).
Objective: To describe the operations, activities, and resources
of the DICs and the DISs affiliated with public institutions of
Costa Rica, and their adjustment to the provisions set forth by
the PAHO.
Methods: Descriptive study conducted in May 2003. The officers
in charge of each of the seven public DICs or DISs in Costa Rica
were interviewed, and inquiries were made regarding aspects of
the structure and process of their centers.
Results: In Costa Rica there are seven public drug information
units, that is, four DICs and three DISs. One of the DICs is located
in this university, and the remaining six centers and services
are in located in hospitals. Five of the centers do not have the
primary sources required by the PAHO. Fifteen out of the 36 tertiary
sources recommended are not available in any of the centers. 100%
of the information units carry out four main activities: answering
inquiries from the hospital community, answering inquiries from
users outside the hospital, implementing education programs for
patients and risk groups, and rotation programs for student training.
Conclusions: The activities developed by the DISs and the DICs
in Costa Rica are similar to each other; they respond not only
to the PAHO’s guidelines, but they also have similarities with
the activities and operations of other DICs worldwide. Primary,
secondary, and tertiary bibliographical support must be strengthened.
