If you have decided that you want to produce a drug bulletin, you will already have some idea of what you are trying to achieve. Review why you wanted a bulletin, then consider if others share your views. If your aims are inappropriate for the readers then the bulletin is unlikely to succeed. Several different aims are worth pursuing and most bulletins have more than one. They may include:

• improving prescribing, dispensing and use of drugs;
• warning of adverse effects;
• advising on therapeutic problems;
• reviewing new drugs, including their cost-effectiveness;
• advocating change, e.g. calling for a national drug policy, or a regulatory improvement;
• criticising activities of the pharmaceutical industry, e.g. the accuracy of advertisements;
• reporting on drug utilisation studies.

A bulletin usually combines education and information. A bulletin that is easy to read is more likely to be read. To succeed a bulletin must have credibility. It should regularly provide reliable, unbiased information that is relevant to its readers. Where possible the material should be referenced so that readers can see that it is evidence-based.