MCQ Quiz: Drug Information

Drug Information is a core specialty within pharmacy that involves the efficient retrieval, critical evaluation, and effective communication of medication-related information. Every pharmacist is a drug information provider, a skill that is systematically developed in the Principles of Evidence-Based Practice course and honed during experiential rotations, “. This quiz will test you on the systematic approach to answering a drug information question, the hierarchy of literature resources, and the critical appraisal skills necessary to provide accurate, evidence-based responses.

1. A pharmacist receives a question from a physician about a drug’s dosage. According to the systematic approach, what is the first step the pharmacist should take?

• a. Perform a literature search.
• b. Formulate a response.
• c. Secure the requester’s demographics and gather background information to clarify the question.
• d. Immediately provide an answer from memory.

Answer: c. Secure the requester’s demographics and gather background information to clarify the question.

2. Textbooks, compendia like Micromedex or Lexicomp, and review articles are all examples of what type of drug information resource?

• a. Primary Literature
• b. Secondary Literature
• c. Tertiary Literature
• d. Quaternary Literature

Answer: c. Tertiary Literature

3. A major advantage of using a tertiary resource to answer a drug information question is that it:

• a. Provides the most up-to-date information available.
• b. Provides a convenient and easy-to-use summary of a topic.
• c. Is free from all potential bias.
• d. Contains original, unpublished research.

Answer: b. Provides a convenient and easy-to-use summary of a topic.

4. A randomized controlled trial published in a peer-reviewed journal is an example of:

• a. Primary Literature
• b. Secondary Literature
• c. Tertiary Literature
• d. Gray Literature

Answer: a. Primary Literature

5. A pharmacist uses PubMed to find clinical trials related to a specific drug. In this case, PubMed is functioning as what type of resource?

• a. Primary Literature
• b. Secondary Literature
• c. Tertiary Literature
• d. A clinical practice guideline.

Answer: b. Secondary Literature

6. The “Principles of Evidence-Based Practice” course provides the foundation for answering drug information questions.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

7. A key limitation of tertiary literature is that:

• a. It is too difficult to use.
• b. The information may be outdated or incomplete compared to the primary literature.
• c. It is not evidence-based.
• d. It is only available in print format.

Answer: b. The information may be outdated or incomplete compared to the primary literature.

8. The PICO format is a tool used to:

• a. Document a response.
• b. Formulate a focused, answerable clinical question.
• c. Cite a reference.
• d. Analyze statistics.

Answer: b. Formulate a focused, answerable clinical question.

9. In the PICO acronym, the “C” stands for:

• a. Causation
• b. Conclusion
• c. Comparison
• d. Clinical

Answer: c. Comparison

10. When should a pharmacist primarily consult the primary literature to answer a DI question?

• a. For every single question received.
• b. When the question is novel, complex, or when tertiary sources provide conflicting or outdated information.
• c. Only when asked by a physician.
• d. Never, as it is too time-consuming.

Answer: b. When the question is novel, complex, or when tertiary sources provide conflicting or outdated information.

11. Evaluating relevant primary literature to answer drug information questions is a key objective in the HIPPE course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

12. Which of the following is considered the “gold standard” resource for information on drugs in pregnancy and lactation?

• a. The Orange Book
• b. Briggs’ Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation
• c. The Red Book
• d. The CDC Yellow Book

Answer: b. Briggs’ Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation

13. A pharmacist is formulating a response to a DI question. The response should be:

• a. As long and detailed as possible.
• b. A direct copy and paste from the source.
• c. A timely, accurate, concise, and evidence-based synthesis of the available information.
• d. The pharmacist’s personal opinion only.

Answer: c. A timely, accurate, concise, and evidence-based synthesis of the available information.

14. After providing a response, what is the final step in the systematic approach to drug information?

• a. Billing for the service.
• b. Forgetting about the question.
• c. Conducting a follow-up to ensure the question was answered satisfactorily.
• d. Publishing the answer.

Answer: c. Conducting a follow-up to ensure the question was answered satisfactorily.

15. Effectively responding to drug information requests is a key objective in the CIPPE course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

16. Which resource is a free database from the NIH specifically for information on drugs and lactation?

• a. Micromedex
• b. Lexicomp
• c. LactMed®
• d. UpToDate

Answer: c. LactMed®

17. The “Searching the Biomedical Literature” is a specific lecture within the EBP course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

18. A key skill in answering a DI question is:

• a. To first understand the true question and the clinical context behind it.
• b. To provide an answer as quickly as possible, even if it’s not complete.
• c. To only use one resource.
• d. To guess the answer if you don’t know it.

Answer: a. To first understand the true question and the clinical context behind it.

19. A pharmacist uses a systematic review with meta-analysis to answer a question. This is what type of resource?

• a. It is a form of primary literature that synthesizes other primary literature.
• b. Secondary Literature
• c. Tertiary Literature
• d. It is not considered evidence.

Answer: a. It is a form of primary literature that synthesizes other primary literature.

20. An active learning session on EBP is part of which course?

• a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

Answer: a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice

21. A drug’s FDA-approved package insert is what type of resource?

• a. Primary
• b. Secondary
• c. Tertiary
• d. Not a resource

Answer: c. Tertiary

22. Which of the following is a potential limitation of a case report (primary literature)?

• a. It has a large sample size.
• b. It cannot prove causation.
• c. It is not useful for generating hypotheses.
• d. It is always blinded.

Answer: b. It cannot prove causation.

23. The “Types of Resources” lecture is part of the EBP curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

24. An active learning session on EBP is part of which course?

• a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

Answer: a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice

25. A pharmacist should always cite their sources when providing a formal drug information response.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

26. The ability to critically appraise a clinical trial is essential for using primary literature to answer a DI question.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

27. A key skill in using secondary resources like PubMed is:

• a. Reading every single article that comes up.
• b. Using effective search terms and filters (e.g., MeSH terms) to narrow the results.
• c. Only looking at the first page of results.
• d. Avoiding all filters to see everything.

Answer: b. Using effective search terms and filters (e.g., MeSH terms) to narrow the results.

28. An active learning session on EBP is part of which course module?

• a. Module 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
• b. Module 5: Urological Disorders
• c. Module 4: Medication Safety
• d. Module 6: Geriatrics

Answer: a. Module 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice

29. Where would a pharmacist look to find information about a drug’s therapeutic equivalence rating?

• a. The Red Book
• b. The Orange Book
• c. The Yellow Book
• d. The Purple Book

Answer: b. The Orange Book

30. The “Drug Information Resources for Pregnancy and Lactation” is a lecture within the Patient Care 5 curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

31. A pharmacist receives a question that is outside their area of expertise. The most professional response is to:

• a. Provide an answer based on their best guess.
• b. Acknowledge the question and inform the requester that they will find the information and get back to them.
• c. Tell the requester to ask someone else.
• d. Ignore the question.

Answer: b. Acknowledge the question and inform the requester that they will find the information and get back to them.

32. What is the top of the traditional evidence hierarchy?

• a. Case reports
• b. Cohort studies
• c. Randomized controlled trials
• d. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs

Answer: d. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs

33. The principles of EBP are foundational to answering DI questions.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

34. A key step in providing a DI response is to:

• a. Only provide the information without any conclusion.
• b. Synthesize the information and provide a clear, concise recommendation or conclusion.
• c. Provide all the articles found for the requester to read themselves.
• d. Only provide your personal opinion.

Answer: b. Synthesize the information and provide a clear, concise recommendation or conclusion.

35. A pharmacist is a drug information specialist, regardless of their practice setting.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

36. A well-formulated DI response should be:

• a. Timely
• b. Accurate and evidence-based
• c. Specific to the question asked
• d. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above.

37. Which of the following is NOT a tertiary resource?

• a. Micromedex
• b. A randomized controlled trial in the New England Journal of Medicine
• c. Lexicomp
• d. The package insert of a medication

Answer: b. A randomized controlled trial in the New England Journal of Medicine

38. The “Journal Club” is an activity where students apply their DI skills.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

39. A key challenge when using primary literature is:

• a. It is always free to access.
• b. The potential for conflicting results between different studies.
• c. It is always easy to read and understand.
• d. It is never peer-reviewed.

Answer: b. The potential for conflicting results between different studies.

40. An active learning session covering EBP is part of which course?

• a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

Answer: a. PHA5244 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice

41. The final step of the DI process, follow-up, is important to:

• a. Ensure the information was received, understood, and useful.
• b. Bill for additional time.
• c. Fulfill a legal mandate.
• d. It is not an important step.

Answer: a. Ensure the information was received, understood, and useful.

42. When answering a question from a patient versus a physician, the pharmacist should:

• a. Provide the same exact response in the same language.
• b. Tailor the language and level of detail to be appropriate for the audience.
• c. Give the physician more accurate information than the patient.
• d. Refuse to answer the patient’s question.

Answer: b. Tailor the language and level of detail to be appropriate for the audience.

43. A pharmacist’s ability to answer medication-related questions using scientific literature is a defined Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

44. Where would a pharmacist find information on the price of a medication?

• a. The Orange Book
• b. The Red Book
• c. The Yellow Book
• d. The Pink Book

Answer: b. The Red Book

45. Which of the following is an example of secondary literature?

• a. A textbook chapter.
• b. A case report.
• c. PubMed.
• d. A package insert.

Answer: c. PubMed.

46. A good DI response is unbiased and objective.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

47. The “Summarizing the Evidence” module is part of the EBP course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

48. An active learning session on drug information is part of which course module?

• a. Module 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
• b. Module 5: Urological Disorders
• c. Module 4: Medication Safety
• d. Module 6: Geriatrics

Answer: a. Module 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice

49. The overall goal of providing drug information is to:

• a. Promote the safe, rational, and effective use of medications.
• b. Demonstrate superior knowledge.
• c. Fulfill a job requirement.
• d. Increase prescription volume.

Answer: a. Promote the safe, rational, and effective use of medications.

50. The ultimate reason to become skilled in drug information is to:

• a. Be able to answer any question without looking it up.
• b. Be a reliable and essential medication expert on the healthcare team.
• c. Pass the EBP final exam.
• d. Get a job in a drug information center.

Answer: b. Be a reliable and essential medication expert on the healthcare team.