Drug Utilization Research (DUR)

Definition of DUR?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined Drug Utilization as "the marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences."

Drug Utilization Research (DUR) can provide insights into the various aspects of drug use and drug prescribing including:

•  Emerging patterns in drug usage and associated costs
•  Extent and quality of drug usage and compliance-related issues
•  Demographics of drug usage
•  Health outcomes and economics of drug usage
•  Efficiency and cost effectiveness of drug usage

Importance of DUR?

DUR serves as a tool to investigate drug usage in various populations, without which it would be impossible to engage in educated discussions on rational usage of drugs or to measure and improve the existing prescribing habits.

Data Sources for DUR?

Data needed for DUR can be collected from various points on the drug supply chain. It may also be derived from quantitative or qualitative studies, generally collected from surveys and therapeutic audits.

At Brogan, economic information for DUR is collected from a variety of sources including data from hospitals, drug plans, physicians, medical records, patient databases, Statistics Canada, and published literature. An important source of data for Brogan DUR is the data collected directly from administrative systems, representing the actual payment activity of public and private drug plans. All stakeholders involved in this payment system (patients, pharmacists, drug plan administrators) have in their best interest to maintain an accurate record of payment.

Having access to this source places Brogan researchers in a position to provide excellent insight into drug usage patterns in Canada and contribute to improving health care in this country.

Prior to gathering of information, an environmental assessment of data availability identifies the available sources of information to determine the most appropriate source for your study to ensure that your research project starts off on the right track.

Our DUR Expertise

We have extensive expertise with a wide range of data sources, economic models and analytical methods. We develop client-specific models with realistic assumptions that increase certainty around the economic costs or cost-effectiveness estimates generated from the model. Our competence includes economic model development that best represent patients' progress through various states of health based on treatment choices.

Our DUR offerings include:

Rx Tracking
Rx Dynamics®
Rx Monitoring

For more information, please contact us at 613.599.0711.