National survey of pharmacy-coordinated investigational drug services.

A national survey of 703 pharmacy departments was conducted to obtain information on the status and scope of investigational drug services (IDS). Questionnaires were mailed to the directors of pharmacy departments of general medical and surgical hospitals with 300 or more beds and a university affiliation. The survey consisted of 27 questions that were primarily based on the ASHP guidelines for the use of investigational drugs in institutions. A total of 403 questionnaires were returned, 386 of which could be evaluated, 386 of which could be evaluated. Only 33% of the pharmacy departments adopted a minimal subset (7 of 11) of the recommended procedures based on the ASHP guidelines. All pharmacy departments with more than 40 protocols reported having a research pharmacist or a need for one. Of all of the protocols, 43% were sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, 34% by pharmaceutical companies, 16% by investigators and physicians, and 7% by various other sponsors. Drug information, monetary reimbursement for services,a dn coordination and communication were the most frequently cited areas in need of improvement by the drug sponsors. The most common types of protocols involved cancer research (56%) and infectious disease and cardiovascular studies (12% and 13%, respectively). Directors of pharmacy departments should review their investigational drug policies and procedures for compliance with ASHP guidelines as the first step in developing the IDS concept.