1.Development of Evaluation Indicators for Drug Information Websites Serving Patients and General Consumers
Ken YAMAMOTO ; Kyoko KITAZAWA ; Tsugumichi SATO ; Mitsuo SAITO ; Hiromi TAKANO-OHMURO ; Yuki KAJI ; Takeo NAKAYAMA ; Michiko YAMAMOTO
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2025;27(3):105-115
Objective: With the Internet serving as a major source of medical information, the abundance of pharmaceutical content across media and digital platforms raises concerns about the impact of inappropriate or misleading information on public health. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive, practical evaluation indicator to assess the reliability and quality of pharmaceutical websites, targeting general consumers in Japan.Methods: We systematically reviewed existing domestic and international criteria for health information quality to develop evaluation indicators. Based on this review, a preliminary set of indicators was drafted and refined using a modified Delphi process involving six experts in pharmaceutical and medical communications. This process incorporated established frameworks, including the Health on the Net (HON) Code, JAMA Benchmarks, and the Japanese eHealth Ethics Code. A validated set of indicators was finalized after four iterative rounds of review and feedback.Results: The final tool comprises 16 evaluation items across three categories: (1) Screening Criteria (4 items), which eliminate websites with misleading content, public indecency, or political/religious affiliations; (2) Website Evaluation Criteria (5 items), assessing operational transparency, contact availability, advertisement distinction, and policy disclosure; and (3) Content Evaluation Criteria (7 items), addressing clarity, accuracy, update frequency, source citation, legal compliance, and balanced risk-benefit information. Each item was rated using a primarily binary (yes/no) scale with intermediate options, such as “partially applicable” or “not applicable.” The tool reflects expert consensus and complies with Japan’s ethical and regulatory standards.Conclusion: This tool facilitates the appropriate dissemination of pharmaceutical information and supports users in identifying trustworthy sources. By explicitly incorporating legal compliance and editorial transparency as evaluation criteria, it encourages higher standards among healthcare professionals and information providers, potentially improving the quality of pharmaceutical communication.
6.2.Points for Evaluation of the Revised Risk Minimization Plans on Thalidomide and its Derivatives
Japanese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2017;22(1):9-18
Thalidomide and the derivatives, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, are the most potent teratogenic medicines. Thalidomide Education and Risk Management System (TERMS®)and RevMate® for lenalidomide and pomalidomide have been operated with a goal of no exposed embryo to the drugs. The TERMS®and the RevMate®, a centralized management system, were revised in 2016 according to a request by a patient group. After the revision, the patient self-check sheet on adherence to conception prevention is primarily confirmed by his/her doctor, and the content of the completed sheet is sent to the management center in the pharmaceutical company after dispensing of the drug. The points for evaluation of the revised system will be as follows. (1) Has an appropriate procedure in accordance with the revised system been established in respective hospitals? (2) The rate of non-compliance with the procedure by the doctors or pharmacists, (3) Effect on awareness and behavior of the patients. Questionnaire studies of the patients, doctors, and pharmacists have been performed by the third-party committees.
7.Preface
Tsugumichi SATO ; Toshiaki NAKAMURA
Japanese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2017;22(1):1-1
8.Development of a Clinical Practice Guideline Utilization System to Support Pharmacist Prescription Proposals:
Itsuko Ohno ; Nobuyo Suzuki ; Shihori Kawahara ; Yoshiaki Shikamura ; Yasunari Mano ; Tsugumichi Sato ; Shuji Shimada ; Keita Akagi ; Yoshi Shigeno ; Mitsue Saito ; Naoko Sugihira ; Masayo Komoda
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2017;19(2):50-58
Objective: Pharmacists need to know at what positioning a drug is recommended in clinical practice guidelines when they make prescription proposals. However, the format of guidelines and the definition of recommendation grades differ between academic societies, making it difficult to comprehensively extract only the information one needs. Therefore, we developed a guideline utilization system to support prescription proposals by pharmacists.
Methods: We built a database comprised of clinical practice guidelines on pharmacological therapy for breast cancer and breast cancer-related conditions. FileMaker®was used in the development of the system.
Result: This system allows the comprehensive extraction of clinical questions and recommendations from multiple guidelines by means of standardized keywords.
Conclusion: This system supports prescription proposals by pharmacists when generating pharmacological therapy protocols or when in discussions with healthcare professionals as information on the positioning of therapeutic agents in different guidelines and recommended drugs is readily available.
9.Preface
Tsugumichi SATO ; Toshiaki NAKAMURA
Japanese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2017;22(1):1-1
10.2.Points for Evaluation of the Revised Risk Minimization Plans on Thalidomide and its Derivatives
Japanese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2017;22(1):9-18
Thalidomide and the derivatives, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, are the most potent teratogenic medicines. Thalidomide Education and Risk Management System (TERMS®)and RevMate® for lenalidomide and pomalidomide have been operated with a goal of no exposed embryo to the drugs. The TERMS®and the RevMate®, a centralized management system, were revised in 2016 according to a request by a patient group. After the revision, the patient self-check sheet on adherence to conception prevention is primarily confirmed by his/her doctor, and the content of the completed sheet is sent to the management center in the pharmaceutical company after dispensing of the drug. The points for evaluation of the revised system will be as follows. (1) Has an appropriate procedure in accordance with the revised system been established in respective hospitals? (2) The rate of non-compliance with the procedure by the doctors or pharmacists, (3) Effect on awareness and behavior of the patients. Questionnaire studies of the patients, doctors, and pharmacists have been performed by the third-party committees.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail