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Continuing education in drug therapy

I stated in a previous message that the continuing education of practicing physicians in drug therapy is an important goal of the Society. One can rightfully raise questions: "Is there a problem?" "Is there a need for improvement in drug therapy?" "Should ASCPT members devote time, attention, and energy to educational efforts aimed at increasing the effectiveness and safety of drug therapy?" My position is that excellence in drug therapy is a tremendous challenge to the individual and to the Society. No one of us can be an excellent drug therapist in all aspects of medicine. No single mind can have that good a mastery of clinical medicine and pharmacology. Excellence in drug therapy demands accurate diagnosis as well as expert clinical judgment. The therapeutic decision requires accurate knowledge and decisions on three fronts. First, the seriousness of the illness: What is the prognosis? What will happen if no drug is administered? Is the patient's condition stable? If not, what is the direction and the rate of change? Second, how effective are drug A and drug B in this illness and in the stage of the disease presented by this patient with the biologic and psychologic assets and liabilities that are present in this unique human being. Third, what are the adverse effects of drug A and drug B? We need especially to know the incidence of serious adverse effects. The battle has only begun when the decision has been made to prescribe a drug. A successful outcome demands a general who is thoroughly familiar with the capabilities and shortcomings of his weapons and the characteristics of the battlefield. The point that I wish to emphasize is that drug therapy is an important and challenging part of patient care. Those of us who have a special interest in clinical pharmacology will readily admit that we need help when we are confronted by patients who need drugs that we rarely prescribe in our clinical work. It is logical to assume that other physicians need information that will help them to prescribe drugs with greater efficacy and safety. I, therefore, urge members of the Society to find ways in which they can advance teaching and learning of drug therapy. We welcome ideas that the Society or individual members can activate.