Online information resources are especially useful in enabling IT-literate workers to accomplish content-related tasks. Amid a global flu pandemic, they become even more valuable by offering a simple, easily navigable hub of mission-critical and life-saving health information. Which is why Wiley-Blackwell’s digital edition of medicine administration guide is a must-have for health professionals.

The publisher has launched the second edition of its UCL Hospitals Injectable Medicines Administration Guide Online (UCLHguide Online) to give nurses and healthcare professionals online access to the key information and advice needed for the safe and effective administration of many injectable medicines. It is a fully revised and updated version of the previous edition, published in 1997. Wiley-Blackwell says it has kept the general structure and format unchanged because of the positive feedback it has gained from pharmacists, nurses and doctors over the years.

The website draws on the experience and expertise of specialist pharmacists and other health professionals at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and contains information not readily accessible elsewhere. UCLH is an NHS foundation trust whose hospitals cover dental, heart, tropical diseases, neurology and homeopathic segments.

UCLHguide Online includes information to support the prescribing, dispensing and administration of intravenous, subcutaneous and intramuscular medicines. It offers a wealth of background information, including local policies and procedures, information relating to infusion devices and problems associated with injectable medicines.

The site covers many important aspects of administering medicines by injection, guiding the professionals with key information and advice for the safe and effective administration of these injectable medicines.

In the latest version, over 20 new monographs have been added, ranging from intravenous paracetamol to drotrecogin alfa (activated) infusion. It contains more information on drug-drug compatibility and more detail on the use of the aseptic non-touch technique method of preparing injectable medicines. The latest version also extensively updates the details about infusion devices. Minimum infusion volumes have been inserted (where known), which should help in the administration of intravenous medicines in the fluid-restricted patient.

It also includes the new local practice recommendations, which may differ from advice in the summary of product characteristics. Although the information in the medicine monographs is aimed at adult patients, information to support administration to children has been included for certain medicines.

In June 2007, Wiley-Blackwell launched the paperback version of the guide for £20.99. At that time, reviews suggested that the book was well regarded by healthcare professionals for its advice and information, along with a back section that listed common drugs, with preparation details and common side effects, the drugs they can be mixed with and more. Making the same information available to healthcare professionals in a busy modern hospital ward via an online resource adds to the value.

Content-rich websites tend to be complicated and difficult to use, but UCLHguide Online is simple and straightforward, with navigational tools, quick and accurate explanations, preparative details and compatibility for medicines and an A-Z listing of medicines for easy reference. Supplementary material includes problems associated with the administration of intravenous medicine, factors influencing medicine stability, and discharge information for community nurses.

The online guide has been developed in partnership with Semantico, whose platform allows publishers to create their own microsites with very different user interfaces. Richard Padley, managing director of Semantico, says: "The creation of microsites is an approach that is being increasingly adopted by our clients to maintain user comfort and loyalty when bringing specialised titles online.'

The Semantico platform allows the guide to be marketed separately from the main Blackwell Reference Online site, allowing it to address its niche market in a direct way, while retaining the functionality of a much larger online offering. Users will experience powerful searching and browsing capabilities and an easy-to-navigate site that gives them the vital information they need.

Doctor Jon Walmsley, managing director (professional) for Wiley-Blackwell, says: "Delivery of up-to-date information for the safe administration of injectable medicines is essential in the modern healthcare setting. The UCLH guide is designed to display complex information in a clear and concise manner. The easy-to-navigate format means healthcare professionals can quickly access the information they need at the point-of-care, facilitating professional decision making and promoting patient safety.'

The project echoes Wiley-Blackwell’s rich experience in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For instance, the website pages are data-rich rather than image-rich, making downloads much faster.

The site is thoughtfully developed, taking into account the probable user environment – a ward – so that few clicks and enters are needed. It comes with a set of FAQs, an introduction for beginners and support contact point. The website can also be accessed by students.

While the target platform is Explorer 7 running on Windows XP or Vista, the website also supports Firefox 2.0, Explorer 6, Safari 2.x, Macintosh and Opera 9.

The resource is available on subscription to hospitals, NHS and primary care trusts, and clinical practice groups. Prices are based on the number of beds in the hospital trust and/or the number of employees in a PCT or clinical practice group. Prices start at £400 (for the first 100 beds/employees), increasing by £40 for each additional 100 beds/ employees.

The publisher has announced that the third edition of UCLHguide Online is scheduled for release on 1 July 2010 and will also incorporate a National Patient Safety Agency risk assessment for each medicine monograph.

Just one wish in an increasingly Web 2.0 world: the site could have been interactive, allowing healthcare professionals to connect with each other and comment on suggestions or rate the most useful tip, or display the most used suggestion on the homepage for even easier access of information.

Box: Verdict

UCLHguide Online

www.uclhguide.com

ISBN: 9781405189620

Static but a useful guide and consultation website that discusses medicines by injection methods and helps healthcare professionals with the safe and confident administration of drugs