Introduction to Drug Utilization Research: The Conduct of Real-World Drug Utilization Studies: Describe and Compare

‎1. Course Aim ‎
This educational session provides an overview of drug utilisation (DU) research and presents essential ‎methods used. It will be based on the real-world conduct of drug utilisation studies, with specific examples to ‎provide participants with an ‘introductory working knowledge’ of drug utilisation research. The session ‎includes interaction with participants, question and answer sessions, and discussion during and at the end of ‎each presentation. The session will introduce the participants to:‎
•Description of the theoretical framework and practical applications of DU research ‎
•Classification systems and methods used in DU research
•Use of various designs, data sources and epidemiological methods in DU research

‎2. Requisites Statement ‎
Entry level course. This course is targeted at:‎
‎1. New members of the DUR / health services research (HSR) Special Interest Group (SIG) and graduate ‎students new to DUR/HSR
‎2. Those interested in drug utilisation research who need an overview of the area
‎3. Those interested in monitoring of medicine use and quality assessment
‎4. Those working in health care organisations involved in payment and reimbursement of medicines, ‎medicines policy areas, or planning of health services

‎3. Course Objectives‎
‎1.‎ To get an overview of DU research within the context of Pharmacoepidemiology, Health Services ‎Research and Public Health
‎2.‎ To understand fundamental principles for classifying and quantifying DU and to gain understanding of ‎the methodological challenges
‎3.‎ To achieve basic knowledge and understanding of epidemiological measures of DU and study designs ‎based on individual patient data
‎4.‎ To describe methodological and policy issues in DU research

‎4. Syllabus Outline‎
Introduction to Drug Utilisation Research: The Conduct of Real World Drug Utilisation Studies: Describe and ‎Compare ‎
• Introduction to DU research and set scene for the topic of the session (to be decided) by Mina Tadrous
• Methodological frameworks and challenges in DU research by Lisa Pont ‎
• Study designs, classifications and aggregate measures of DU by Björn Wettermark
• Measures of medication use based on individual-level data by Lotte Rasmussen ‎