ABSTRACT
Title
Information campaign and management of an independent website on drugs
Authors
P. Carta1, F. Ligas2, C. Asuni1, M.E. Stochino2, V. Deiana2, E. Mosca1,2, C. Chilllotti1, M. Del Zompo1,2
1Unità Complessa di Farmacologia Clinica – Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari
2Sezione di Farmacologia Clinica - Dipartimento di Neuroscienze – Università degli Studi di Cagliari
1Unità Complessa di Farmacologia Clinica – Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari
2Sezione di Farmacologia Clinica - Dipartimento di Neuroscienze – Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Abstract
An independent and scientifically valid public information on drugs is mainly attainable through a series of activities aimed at facilitating a correct use of drugs, orienting the process of therapeutic choices on the basis of scientific evidence, promoting the appropriateness of prescriptions and supporting the updating of health workers with the final intent of preserving patients’ well being.
A continuous independent information on the correct use of drugs represents a useful tool to stimulate a correct prescription. This objective is much easier to meet when the educational pathway is also directed at the common citizen.
On these premises, the Unit of Clinical Pharmacology of the Hospital-University Agency of Cagliari (AOUCA) has been conducting since 2002 a project entitled “Drug Information Service for the institutional communication on drug safety”, with the aim of reaching both health professionals and citizens with a correct information on the correct use of drugs.
One of the activities performed by the Drug Information Service is the management of a website (www.farmaci-fc.it), which was created as a tool for the diffusion and promotion of drug related issues in order to increase the knowledge on the correct use of drugs among health workers and simple citizens.
The Unit of Clinical Pharmacology is keen on divulging its drug information activities through numerous informative campaigns during meetings, congresses and workshops, and through the release of publications for the general public.
The objective of this work is to show how these informative campaigns may contribute to keep up the interest of patients and stimulate the attention of health professionals on the various themes related to the independent information on drugs.
In order to evaluate the interest raised by such issues, from the end of 2009 the website www.farmaci-fc.it is analyzed by Google Analytics, a tool developed for the analysis of web data which allows us to obtain detailed information on the hits directed to the website and therefore to better organize our activity and individuate our strengths and weaknesses. Google Analytics automatically sends weekly reports to the site administrators listing the data related to: number of accesses, source and nationality of accessing people, key words used in the site and more information.
In 2010 the site received an average of 1000 views monthly, with peaks in March, July and December. In 2011 a record peak was observed in March: in the first week 900 accesses were registered.
Most viewers reach the site from research engines: about 80% of hits come from this source (mainly Google). Besides, it has been noticed the access peaks occur when informative activities are being performed, particularly those involving the website. Namely, the publication of an article entitled “Food supplements and drugs” on the bulletin of the Medical Association of the Province of Cagliari, and the release of a brochure entitled “Drugs and G6PD deficiency” caused a huge increase of the accesses.
Discussion
These data confirm the periodical and continuous activities of a Drug Information Service are a stimulus for health professionals and an aid for patients and contribute to ameliorate the quality of healthcare and facilitate a correct use of drugs.
A continuous independent information on the correct use of drugs represents a useful tool to stimulate a correct prescription. This objective is much easier to meet when the educational pathway is also directed at the common citizen.
On these premises, the Unit of Clinical Pharmacology of the Hospital-University Agency of Cagliari (AOUCA) has been conducting since 2002 a project entitled “Drug Information Service for the institutional communication on drug safety”, with the aim of reaching both health professionals and citizens with a correct information on the correct use of drugs.
One of the activities performed by the Drug Information Service is the management of a website (www.farmaci-fc.it), which was created as a tool for the diffusion and promotion of drug related issues in order to increase the knowledge on the correct use of drugs among health workers and simple citizens.
The Unit of Clinical Pharmacology is keen on divulging its drug information activities through numerous informative campaigns during meetings, congresses and workshops, and through the release of publications for the general public.
The objective of this work is to show how these informative campaigns may contribute to keep up the interest of patients and stimulate the attention of health professionals on the various themes related to the independent information on drugs.
In order to evaluate the interest raised by such issues, from the end of 2009 the website www.farmaci-fc.it is analyzed by Google Analytics, a tool developed for the analysis of web data which allows us to obtain detailed information on the hits directed to the website and therefore to better organize our activity and individuate our strengths and weaknesses. Google Analytics automatically sends weekly reports to the site administrators listing the data related to: number of accesses, source and nationality of accessing people, key words used in the site and more information.
In 2010 the site received an average of 1000 views monthly, with peaks in March, July and December. In 2011 a record peak was observed in March: in the first week 900 accesses were registered.
Most viewers reach the site from research engines: about 80% of hits come from this source (mainly Google). Besides, it has been noticed the access peaks occur when informative activities are being performed, particularly those involving the website. Namely, the publication of an article entitled “Food supplements and drugs” on the bulletin of the Medical Association of the Province of Cagliari, and the release of a brochure entitled “Drugs and G6PD deficiency” caused a huge increase of the accesses.
Discussion
These data confirm the periodical and continuous activities of a Drug Information Service are a stimulus for health professionals and an aid for patients and contribute to ameliorate the quality of healthcare and facilitate a correct use of drugs.