Awareness and satisfaction level of pharmacists users of a Drug Information Center

Abstract

The Drug Information Center of Federal University of Ceara (CIM-UFC) serves the health professionals as well as the population through the provision of objective, unbiased, evidence-based information on a variety of pharmacy topics. The present study had the purpose of evaluating the awareness and satisfaction level of pharmacists, users of the services provided by the CIM-UFC. A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2005, in which, there were interviewed 53 (62.3%) pharmacists in 26 health care units registered in CIM-UFC. The results revealed that concerning to the awareness and use of CIM-UFC, all professionals reported to know the Center and its services, due mainly, to the University itself during the time that they were Pharmacy students. To 14 (21.6%) of the interviewed professionals, the Center’s informative bulletin was the responsible for introducing CIM-UFC and its services to them. Among the professionals that had used the CIM-UFC services (n=41), 34 (82.9%) reported that the information was provided in a timely manner for being applied; 39 pharmacists (95.1%) confirmed that the informations were clear; 38 (92.7%) said that the answers were objective and 33 (80.5%) considered the answers to be complete. By the performed evaluation, it is concluded that the CIM-UFC has its work recognized by pharmacists of the referred health care unities. The Center has been providing its services with quality, thus obtaining satisfaction from the users, contributing, in this way, for the rational drug use.