薬学領域の情報化への対応と問題点:熊大薬学部の取り組み

抄録

Pharmacists inform their patients on the proper use of prescription and nonprescription drugs. They also provide drug information to physicians and other health care professionals. In Japan, the education of information processing for the students of pharmaceutical departments of universities and colleges of pharmacy has been insufficient. We began computer education for second-year students in 1987. After two years, computer search for drug information databases was added to the curriculum. Information education including practical training has been required of all students since 1994. After the construction of the Kumamoto University Information Campus (KUIC) network, we have modified the education to match the future multimedia age. We are going to establish a drug information database using the library computer to make the best use of the ATM network. There are thousands of drugs available in Japan and many new ones are introduced each year. Therefore, continuing education is essential for pharmacists to enhance current knowledge and practice while introducing new information and technologies. I hope that pharmacy libraries will act as information centers for community pharmacists through the use of their own home pages.