Web Search Paper Directions

The paper is found under Web CT quizzes. Once you open your paper, you will have 48 hours to complete it. The paper may only be submitted once. Most of the questions will grade automatically. Correct spelling is required. Follow directions for how to enter your answer.

Getting ready to start:

1. Open an internet browser to the Pharm Reference page (http://www.hhs.csus.edu/Pharm).
2. Open a second internet browser to your web CT site where you will access the paper under quizzes.
3. Adjust the size and location of the two browser pages by clicking on one of two small boxes that appear in the upper right of the screen. This enables you to read a question on Web CT and use the other browser to go look up the answer.
   • Some students prefer to use the left box that has a bar in the bottom. Clicking here will minimize the window. To maximize the window again, click on the appropriate section of the bar along the bottom of the screen.
   • Some students prefer to use the middle box that has two overlapping small boxes. Clicking here will allow you to resize the window so your two browser windows can sit side by side. Position your cursor over the edge of the window, hold down the left mouse key and drag the edge to where you want it. Move the whole window by pointing your cursor to the top bar and holding down the left mouse key to drag it.
   • Don't click on the right box with the X as this will close the browser.

Starting:

1. Open Web Search Assignment 1 in the quiz section of this webct site.
   • Q1 will ask you to go to the CDC immunization link and answer a question about when someone should receive a certain vaccine. The directions will tell you to only type in the number. For example: "...vaccine should first be given when the child is ___ month(s) old. (Type in only the number.)" would be graded correct if you typed 6 but it would be graded wrong if you typed 6 months.
   • Q2 will ask you to predict potential drug interactions. From the rxlist link, click online pharmacy. Then look for the Pharmacy Resource Center section and click on the Drug Interaction Checker link. Type in the name of the first drug, then click on go. Select the form of the drug you want. then type in the name of the second drug and go. Select the form you want and click on interactions. 
   • Q3 asks about some recent warnings from the FDA. From the FDA link you will search the site for MEDWATCH, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and/or the key words in the question you are given. The short answer question asks you to fill in the blank from what you read on the site. If you get to a long page that might have the information you need somewhere, but you don't want to take time to read every word, open the edit menu on the top of the screen and select "find on this page". Search the page for a key word.
   • Q4 sends you to the list of the Top 200 drugs prescribed in the USA. (The most recent list may be from 2002.) This list is on the rxlist web site. The list can be sorted alphabetically or by numbers of prescriptions. (By default, mine comes up as the later, and this is the view you want.) You will be asked what is the most commonly prescribed drug to treat a certain condition (for example, anxiety).. Just go down the list until you find an appropriate drug. If you don't know what a drug is for, just click on the drug name link and look under indications
   • Q5 sends you to the web site for a pharmaceutical company. (Link off the pharm reference page). You fill in blank for some piece of news on their web site.
   • Q6 gives you 2 drugs for which you must find similarities and differences. 2-5 sentences should be sufficient to answer. Use good grammar, be articulate and intelligent.
     • For example, if your drugs were Zantac and Zyrtec you might write: Zantac and Zyrec have similar names but there is nothing similar about their action. Zantac is an H2-Blocker used to prevent ulcers and Zyrtec is an antihistamine used for nasal congestion. The Food and Drug Administration has received 7 reports where one of these drugs was substituted for the other. Fortunately, the outcome was not serious in most cases."
     • If your drugs were Heparin and Coumadin you might write: "Heparin and Coumadin are both anticoagulants. Heparin has a quick onset of action and must be given by injection. Coumadin takes several days before effectiveness is seen and is only available by the oral route."
   • Q7 allows you pick any drug and search Pub Med for articles about it. Clicking on the title of the paper will link you to the abstract. Select the abstract, copy and paste it into the space on your quiz. (The copy and paste commands are under the edit menu.)
   • Q8 asks you for the retail price of a drug. You can find this information at the online pharmacy at rxlist by entering the drug name in the prescription price checker.
   • Q9 asks you to again go to the FDA web site. This time you will go there via your web browser search. Type in FDA in the box and then select the option that includes FDA and gov in the address. If this hasn’t taken you to the official web site, try again. Under FDA news you will select the appropriate option. Another way would be to search the web site for an item and in this case you would select the option close to the date you believe the item was posted
   • Q10 asks you to go to a pharmaceutical web page and locate information posted there. You can access the web site via the Pharm reference page, cutting and pasting the address onto your search engine address, or by doing an on-line search by the company’s name.
   • Q11 asks you to determine the sponsoring agency for a web site that you have just opened. The title of the web page is usually a good start but the web address also has a good bit of information that may help.
   • Q12 asks you to compare similar information on two web sites. You can open both internet web sites and locate the information you need. You are also asked to make some judgments about the information you obtained from both sites.