Patient-Drug Information from an Administrative Viewpoint

Abstract

One of my reference books¹—published 30 years ago—defines the word “administrative” as “the activities conducted by national and local governmental authorities for the purpose of promoting the well-being and satisfaction of the community and the individual.” Today, however, the word “administrative” in the Swedish language covers a multitude of meanings—from “top management” to decidedly unqualified “administrative” tasks carried out under the supervision of a superior staff member who is responsible for all the details.

One way of working administratively with patient drug information—the “Swedish way”—has a general applicability, not only for situations on the administrative level but also because it encompasses all levels of dealing with problems, big or small, relating to information designed for teaching or learning. This article discusses the various stages in two projects conducted by the Swedish Drug Information Council (Läkemedelsinformationsrådet, LIR). The object of both these projects is to improve drug information to patients, to clarify drug therapy principles for those who need such information and, of course, the drug therapy itself and thus facilitate medication, especially for older people.