Looking ahead with PubDrug
January 26th, 2007 Stewart Posted in informatics, pubdrug, university at buffalo |
The PubDrug initiative is in a much different place now than it was a month ago. One month ago we had a slightly anemic monograph template and a few bare-boned pages devoted to content development and management.
One month later, here’s our status:
- The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has agreed to let P4 students on informatics rotations help develop PubDrug and two have completed their rotations. Another two will begin next week. This should continue throughout the semester.
- The first two full drug monographs, atorvastatin and amlodipine, are almost completed and undergoing final certification. A third monograph, esomeprazole, is being readied.
- From this work, the drug monograph template has been dramatically expanded. A rough methodology has been drafted and is being fleshed out.
- A process for reviewing and certifying monographs has been sketched out and is being refined.
- A reasonable, achievable goal has been set: Monographs for the top 200 drugs by the end of 2007.
Let’s be clear: There are many issues still needing to be resolved. Certification is a reasonable enough method for conducting editorial review, but a strong editorial body is needed to assume responsibility for doing the work. Many of the methods that have been devised will need to continue to be tested over the coming months. And, the general stigma about wikis as a content management system continues to plague these efforts somewhat, although the response today was overwhelmingly positive.
I wish to publicly thank Amy Jo and Bill for all their amazing work this past month. Bill has, in particular, gone above and beyond the call for this project — His output will guide our continuing efforts for a long time to come. I also want to thank PIC director Linda Catanzaro for her continued commitment to this project.
It’s been a long week. I’m heading home. I’ll get back to posting regularly next week.
January 28th, 2007 at 6:48 am
This is a fabulous project on so many levels - but I especially love the collaboration between the library and the Pharmacy School! I’ve enjoyed following along and look forward to watching the wiki grow.
One thing I’ve been frustrated by is trying to find reliable information about medications online… searches inevitably turn up Ph*rma spites and splogs. No more!!!! I’ll know where to go first!
January 28th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Thanks Jenn! Obviously we have a lot of work ahead of us, but it definitely feels like we hit several milestones this month, and our goals for the year (quick-response editorial system, full monographs for 200 drugs, expansion of project beyond UB) are quite do-able. I’ll post here as we continue moving forward.
February 4th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I really like how the first 2 monographs came out! Tons of information
February 4th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I agree, Nate. Bill and Amy did a bang-up job on the first two monographs and set the bar very high for all those that will follow. That said, I’ve been watching closely as the next three monographs are being developed, and think they will meet and continue the standard set before them. Look to PubDrug.org’s main page sometime later this week for a big update.