Purpose: This study compared the potential for PDA-based drug information sources to assure medication safety associated with medication errors that are dependent upon specific, accurate, and complete drug information at the point of care.

Methods: Physicians and pharmacists were surveyed to determine the quality standards and usefulness of 16 PDA-based drug information sources. Three sources emerged that most closely met these criteria: Mobile Micromedex, ePocrates, and Lexi-Drugs. A medication error classification system was then assessed to determine the most common medication errors types that were likely to occur because of the lack of availability of accurate, specific, or complete drug information at the point of care. Twenty-six (26) case simulations were created to test the ability of the sources to meet these safety needs. A rating was assigned to each resource; 1 = no information, 2 = inadequate information, 3 = adequate information, 4 = information exceeds need.

Results: The mean ratings for adequacy to meet the information need related to patient safety were 2.9 (Lexi-Drugs), 2.0 (ePocrates), and 2.1 (Mobile Micromedex), respectively; with Lexi-Drugs significantly better when compared to Mobile Micromedex (t-test; p = 0.001) and ePocrates (t-test; p = 0.005). No resource was sufficient for all cases.

Conclusion: Lexi-Drugs was the most accurate, specific, and complete resource available via PDA to optimize medication safety by reducing potential errors associated with insufficient or incomplete drug information as a possible cause. Specific improvements and recommendations to maximize medication safety are discussed.

Support - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Grant #1-R18HS11808-01.

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