Paper #809

Title:

Drug utilization studies and data registries in primary care

Authors:

Beatriz González López-Valcárcel, Anselmo López Cabañas, Antonio Cabeza Mora, José Antonio Díaz Berenguer, Vicente Ortún and Fayna Álamo Santana

Date:

February 2005

Abstract:

This article reviews the methodology of the studies on drug utilization with particular emphasis on primary care. Population based studies of drug inappropriateness can be done with microdata from Health Electronic Records and e-prescriptions. Multilevel models estimate the influence of factors affecting the appropriateness of drug prescription at different hierarchical levels: patient, doctor, health care organization and regulatory environment. Work by the GIUMAP suggest that patient characteristics are the most important factor in the appropriateness of prescriptions with significant effects at the general practicioner level.

Keywords:

Drug Utilization Studies, Multilevel Models, Primary Care, Health Information Systems, Health Economics.

JEL codes:

I18

Area of Research:

Labour, Public, Development and Health Economics

Published in:

Cuadernos Económicos de ICE, 67, pp 161-189, 2005

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