Drug utilization research: methods and applications

General principles -- Epidemiological measures -- Other measures -- Strengths and limitations of individual-level statistics -- Chapter 8: Measurement of drug expenditure -- Introduction -- Definitions and perspectives -- Price-related units of pharmaceutical expenditure -- Methodological challenges related to pharmaceutical expenditure -- Chapter 9: Basic statistical methods in drug utilization research -- Introduction -- Why we need statistical methods in drug utilization and health services research -- Use of population data versus sample data -- Types of variables.

Introduction -- ATC -- Other drug classification systems -- Other classification systems relevant for drug utilization research -- Linkage of classification systems -- Chapter 6: Measurement units of drug utilization -- Introduction -- DDD: definition and general considerations -- Principles of DDD assignment -- Alterations and misuse of DDDs -- Other aggregate measures for prescribing -- Other drug utilization metrics -- Use of drugs in animals -- How to report aggregated drug use -- DDDs for special population groups -- Chapter 7: Individual-level drug utilization analyses -- Introduction.

Instruments and forms for primary data collection in drug utilization research -- Modes of primary data collection for drug utilization research -- Ethical considerations -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4: Secondary data sources for drug utilization research -- Introduction -- Sales data -- Electronic health records -- Pharmacy dispensing data -- Reimbursement data -- Patient registries -- Secondary analysis of population health survey data -- Record linkage in drug utilization research -- Privacy, confidentiality and security -- Data quality -- Chapter 5: Classification systems for drugs and diseases.

Observational studies: from descriptive to analytical approaches -- Study designs for descriptive drug utilization studies -- Study designs for analytical drug utilization studies -- Experimental and quasiexperimental study designs in drug utilization research -- Other study designs for drug utilization research -- Chapter 3: Primary data collection for drug utilization research -- Introduction -- Identifying primary data sources for drug utilization research -- Collecting valuable primary data in drug utilization research.

Title Page -- Copyright -- List of contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Advisory board -- Reviewers -- About the companion website -- Part 1: Introduction -- Chapter 1: Introduction to drug utilization research -- Room for improvement in drug utilization -- The history of drug utilization research -- Definition and delineation -- Skills needed to be a drug utilization researcher -- Areas of inquiry in drug utilization research reflected in this book -- Part 2: Methodology -- Chapter 2: Study designs in drug utilization research -- Introduction -- Quantitative and qualitative research.

Includes bibliographical references and index.