Pharmacoepidemiology: Principles & Practice / Edition 1

by Brenda Waning

Overview

Pharmacoepidemiology continues to be a growing area of study in the PharmD pharmacy curriculum. What exactly is pharmacoepidemiology? It is the study of the nature and extent of drug taking behaviours. With its basis in epidemiology, it measures source diffusion, and use of drugs in population. This discipline is currently focusing on pharmaceutical care outcomes and the identification of potential or real drug use problems. Adapted from the author's self-paced learning modules at MCP, this title is designed to aid the practising pharmacist or pharmacy student in developing and using concepts and methods for assessing the nature and extent of these drug taking behaviours.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071355070
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Companies, The
Publication date:	01/01/2001
Series:	Essentials of Medical Imaging Series
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.55(d)

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Glen T. Schumock, PharmD, MBA, BCPS (University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy)
Description: This is an introductory review of concepts related to pharmacoepidemiology.
Purpose: The purpose, as defined by the authors, is to provide a basic understanding of pharmacoepidemiology and how it is used in pharmacy practice by reviewing the related principles and methods of epidemiology, statistics, and their application to drug use. Because of the recent increased interest in this field, there is a need for greater availability of such information.
Audience: The stated audience is undergraduate students, practicing pharmacists, and other health professionals interested in an introductory review of pharmacoepidemiology.
Features: The book reviews the basic concepts of epidemiology and public health, including definitions and models. Examples given are in the area of drug use. The book also reviews basic statistical methods and research design used in epidemiologic studies. Finally, the book attempts to demonstrate application of pharmacoepidemiology to pharmacy practice in context of post-marketing surveillance, pharmacoeconomics, and drug use review. At the end of each chapter the authors provide study questions; the answers appear at the end of the text.
Assessment: Although the book contains useful material, some sections are insufficient in depth of information even as an introductory text. The sections on application to pharmacy practice are especially lacking. The chapter on pharmacoeconomics is superficial and appears disconnected with the rest of the book. The self-assessment materials (study questions) are useful but would better in a case-study format. The writing style is generally clear and understandable, but two out of the three authors appear to never have published before on their respective topics. While there is a need for additional sources of information in this area, other texts on the subject such as Hartzema's Pharmacoepidemiology: An Introduction, 3rd edition (Harvey Whitney Books, 1998) and Strom's Pharmacoepidemiology, 3rd edition (John Wiley & Sons, 2000) are superior to this one.

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