The purpose of this study was to determine the sources and needs of drug
information for community pharmacies in Palestine. A fifteen item questionnaire was
distributed to community pharmacies. Out of approximately one hundred fifty
community pharmacies who received the questionnaire through An-Najah university
pharmacy trainee students, one hundred eighteen community pharmacies filled in and
returned the questionnaire to the researchers. The questionnaire included background
information and questions regarding sources of drug information available to
pharmacists and the most commonly drug-related questions encountered by community
pharmacies. Approximately ninety per cent of community pharmacists have Martindale
or British Pharmacopoeia as a reference textbook but less than one per cent have other
important primary sources of information like periodicals or continuing education
courses. Computer set-up and Internet services are available for some community
pharmacies. Community pharmacists were most often asked questions about drug price,
over-the-counter drug selection, pediatric drug dosage and drug use in pregnancy and
lactation. The conclusion is that, few drug information sources are available for
community pharmacies in Palestine and this inadequacy in drug information constrains
the community pharmacists in Palestine from providing patients with appropriate drug
education and hinders them from playing an important role in health services as a drug
information provider.