New Drug List Page

[Peter Staley]

Hey gang:

After many years of having a rather boring drug list page (the first page that appears after clicking "drugs" in our navigation links), we've finally upgraded it.  Instead of just showing the drug class categories -- forcing users to pick NRTIs, PIs, etc. first before seeing a list of those drugs -- we've now listed every drug on this page for easier navigation.

I'm sure Newt will find something wrong with it (which is one of the reasons I'm posting this thread), but I think it's a huge improvement over the previous version.

Check it out here:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/list.shtml

Peter

[keyite]

Definitely an improvement, thank you. What would make this list somewhat more navigable for those of us not in the US would be an inclusion of non-US brand names, where they do differ. For example, Epzicom is called Kivexa in EU countries (I know it is mentioned somewhere on the actual page for Epzicom but that really is assuming the user gets that far). Just a suggestion...

[Peter Staley]

Definitely an improvement, thank you. What would make this list somewhat more navigable for those of us not in the US would be an inclusion of non-US brand names, where they do differ. For example, Epzicom is called Kivexa in EU countries (I know it is mentioned somewhere on the actual page for Epzicom but that really is assuming the user gets that far). Just a suggestion...

Good suggestion.  I've added Kivexa, Stocrin, Aluvia and Telzir.  Am I missing any?

[keyite]

Can't think of any other brand names but I'm sure Newt or someone else will step in. From a usability point of view these additional brand names are kinda hard to find on the list. No doubt because the eye invariably is drawn to hyperlinks.

Instead of:

Epzicom (Kivexa, abacavir + lamivudine, ABC + 3TC)

I would suggest:

Epzicom / Kivexa (abacavir + lamivudine, ABC + 3TC)

And perhaps the non-US brand name appearing in the headline of the target page too? I think it would help to emphasise the international nature of this site.

[Peter Staley]

We're not going to go that far right now.  The fact is, our content as a whole is very U.S.-centric.  We use the NIH guidelines throughout our lessons, for instance.  We might someday choose to do a much more international approach, but that would be a huge undertaking, and involve editing many of our lessons. 

From the get go, we made the decision to present HIV treatment info using a standard of care that most U.S. patients would hopefully be presented with, realizing that this often won't translate to the rest of the world.  But the info would still help inform any patient as to possible options to ask about, however unrealistic those options may be in certain settings.

Peter

[Central79]

Lol

It seems even Peter has limits! After the long-term survivors forum; resurrection of the lipo forum; and even my suggestion of a sticky at the top of the "Research News" forum I thought there was no limit to his largesse. 

Seriously though, I think the new drugs page is a marked improvement on the old one - I have already had a look.

And British readers might want to check out the British HIV Association (BHIVA) for guidelines on the treatment of HIV in the UK. British or American, they're both good standards of care.

M.

[newt]

Perfection  (The only improvement (for future consideration perhap) is having a first link for the new and mystified (to a relevant section of the lessons) that says simply "How does anti-HIV treatment work?".  A key question.  I know there is a link to the HIV life cycle etc lower down, but tis nice to help the lost and confused reader, eh?.)

However..

..the "(what are they?)" links might be better served by arriving at pages with the explanation of the drug classes before the drugs table thereon (now there is the new, improved drug listing page).

UK people should deffo check the BHIVA website for UK guidelines but the i-Base guides are in real English (and based on BHIVA standards).

- matt

Now playing: a banana yoghurt

[Peter Staley]

Reordering the drug class pages wouldn't happen fast, since they are database driven, which means it gets added to our programmer's endless to-do list.  However, I updated the "What are they?" links so that they jump to the named anchor on those pages.

Peter

[J.R.E.]

Hello Peter,


By all means, it is certainly a very nice improvement. VERY NICE !



Thanks -------Ray

[Cerrid]

Excellent job, Peter! That's a great improvement! Thanks a lot! 

[SASA39]

Peter , maybe starting a thread " Drug synonims " would help to establish all names for one drug in whole planet ?
                                      Al