BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Information available on drug consumption is inadequate in most low and middle income countries. This systematic review was conducted to analyse published work on drug utilization research/studies (DUR) in the SEARO region of WHO for study objectives, methodology, results and recommendations and to identify the need for improving DUR and the use of the ATC/DDD system. ...

BACKGROUND Canadians receive over 422 million prescriptions and spend over $26 billion annually on drugs. Yet, we do not systematically capture information on whether the right drugs reach the right people with the intended benefits, while avoiding unintended harm. It is important to identify and understand the effectiveness of approaches used to improve prescribing and medication use. OBJECT...

BACKGROUND Despite numerous reports of state Medicaid drug utilization review (DUR) programs, little data are available about the prevalence of drugrelated problems (DRPs) in Medicaid patients. A university-based, pharmacist-run DUR program for high utilizers was created as an alternative to imposition of a statutory limit of 7 medications per month in the Utah Medicaid program in 2002. The DUR...

To evaluate the drug utilization of third generation cephalosporins using core drug use indicators in various wards of Sri Ramachandra Hospital. Third generation cephalosporins are the most commonly prescribed broad spectrum antibiotic even before the culture sensitivity results arrives. Hence this study was undertaken to study the drug utilization evaluation of third generation cephalosporins ...

PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to provide guidance that aids in the practical design, implementation, and analysis of medication use evaluations (MUEs) for postsurgical pain management. SUMMARY Clinicians have long employed drug use evaluations or drug utilization reviews to ensure the safe and appropriate use of medications in a hospital, medical practice, or other healthcare setting....

BACKGROUND The high cost and undesirable consequences of polypharmacy are well-recognized problems among elderly long-term care (LTC) residents. Despite the implementation of the 1987 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which requires pharmacist review of drug regimens in this setting, medical and drug costs for LTC residents have continued to increase. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the North...

EARLIER studies o f M o h a n and R a d h a (1977) have shown that the ra t io between b lood and bra in choline remains cons tant dur ing aging, however, the level o f acetylcholine (ACh) declines gradual ly wi th advance in age (Mohan , 1976). These results led us to investigate whether the reduced A C h levels in the aged bra in result f rom changes in the kinetic propert ies of the hydro ly...

Background. The extent, nature, and determinants of medication use of individuals can be known from drug utilization studies. Objectives. This study intended to determine medication consumption, sharing, storage, and disposal practices of university students in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 university students selected through stratified r...

The UK Drug Utilization Research Group's (DURG) Regional Meeting 'New Horizons: Pharmacovigilance' was hosted by the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) at Southampton on 19 May 2000. Opening the meeting, Dr Keith Beard, UK DURG chairman, welcomed delegates and speakers and thanked the DSRU team for hosting the meeting. With reference to the theme of the meeting - new horizons in pharmacovigilance...

The Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) provides outpatient prescription drug coverage for nearly one-half million State residents 65 years of age or over with income under $15,000 per year. A description of the PACE program is provided herein, along with data and multivariate results relating to the demographic characteristics of PACE beneficiaries, duration ...