RxFiles - Frequently Asked Questions

RxFiles - Frequently Asked Questions.

When will the next edition of the RxFiles Drug Comparison Charts book come out?

The 8th Edition (May 2010) has just been released. It has been fully updated & expanded with several new charts and 136+ pages. Standard and pocket versions will begin shipping May 2010.

I am a member of a group / partnership with subscription to rxfiles.ca online. How do I activate my subscription?

First, you must set up a username (see membership box in upper right). Then, you can click in membership area for subscription activation (or send us an email with your username). Once your group membership status is confirmed, your subscription access will be activated (usually within 1-3 business days).

I'm a health professional in Saskatchewan. How do I access RxFiles online?

Do you receive any funding from industry?

No. RxFiles academic detailing for Saskatchewan is not-for profit program funded by a grant from Saskatchewan Health. Additional revenues from the sale of our book and services allow us to further develop and maintain our drug comparison charts!

What will a paid subscription give me access to?

Many RxFiles newsletters, Q&As, trial summaries & program information is available at no charge. However, the updated drug comparison charts from the book are only available to paid subscribers.

What's the difference between the email notification and subscription options?

Email updates notification is the periodic (~12/year) emails
that we send out when a new document is posted to the website. New newsletters, Q&As, trial summaries are usually available for free access. The subscriber only access area allows access to the ongoing updates of all the charts in the RxFiles Drug Comparison Charts Book.

How often are the drug comparison charts updated?

Charts are updated on an ongoing basis and updated versions posted weekly or monthly as necessary. If you think something should be added? Chances are it already is!

What is academic detailing?

"Academic detailing", or "educational outreach", is the process of providing balanced, non-commercial, evidence based information/education for individual physicians in their offices. It is adopted from the pharmaceutical industry's practice of 'detailing' physicians about new drugs; however, with academic detailing, the sales agenda is removed. The concept was pioneered by Stephen Soumerai and Jerry Avorn in the USA. Academic detailing has been shown to be one of the most successful methods for influencing the prescribing practices of physicians.

Do you have a PDA / PALM / or Blackberry version of the charts?

Unfortunately no. We were able to provide a basic datafile for Palm PDAs until Dec, 2004; however complex style of the charts & funding limitations prevent us from exploring further at this time.

Is it possible to change the information on my user profile?

Other than password changes, changes to user profile information can only be made by submitting the request for change to us by email, or on our feedback form.

Is there a suggested format for referencing RxFiles documents?

Lee M, Jensen B, Regier L. ADHD treatment chart. RxFiles drug comparison charts. 7th ed. Saskatoon, SK: Saskatoon Health Region; 2008. p. 86–7. Available from: www.RxFiles.ca. Accessed 2009 Jul 6.
Lee M, Jensen B, Regier L. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug therapy. Evidence, clinical issues & comparisons. RxFiles Newsletter 2008; Aug, 1–3. Available from: www.RxFiles.ca. Accessed 2009 Jul 06.

How can I access previous and new newsletters?

New newsletters will also be posted online. We generally publish 3+ Newsletters per year, and some additional Trial Summaries and Q&A Summaries. The most recent are noted under the "Featured" and "Recent" sections of our home page. You can also sign up under members box area in right column for email notification of new postings. Previous newsletters are posted on our website and indexed under the therapeutic category (click on lower centre column).

What does the online subscription give me in addition to the book?

The online subscription provides online access to the drug comparison charts that are available in the book. The online charts will be updated whenever new information becomes available. Many users find the book to be most useful/accessible most of the time, but occasionally there is a need to check if new information (e.g. a new drug) is available. This would be available online.