Exploring the training of chinese medical staff oriented to the need for clinical drug information services: from the perspective of drug information patients obtained and need

BACKGROUND: There are some gaps between the training of drug information service competencies for medical staff and drug information patients need in China. OBJECTIVE: To investigate drug information patients obtained and need for further providing directions for the training of drug information service competencies among medical staff in China from patients’ perspectives. METHODS: A face-to-face nationwide survey was conducted using a stratified sampling method. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages and mean. Several subgroup analyses using Chi-square tests were conducted to identify patients’ need for drug information in China. RESULTS: A total of 1994 questionnaires from medical institutions in China were returned. Most of the drug information obtained by patients came from physicians, and different types of drug information were important to patients. Additionally, patients had different needs for drug information due to age, gender, diagnosis and treatment status, and education level. CONCLUSIONS: The training of medical staff needs to increase the presence of nurses and pharmacists in drug information services, enhance the awareness of “patient-centered” services, and improve the ability to provide information services specific to the characteristics of patients. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-023-04680-9.