Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Dec 2011
Review Comparative StudyPharmacovigilance systems and databases in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
The aim of this article is to qualitatively describe the characteristics of spontaneous reporting systems, signal detection methods, and observational databases in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. ⋯ Differences in quantity and submission practice of spontaneous reports should be noted for potential comparison among these countries/regions, as well as with those from Western countries, even after the full implementation of national data mining system. Nationwide claims databases with nearly 100% coverage are great assets for pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology and can be major contributors to global pharmacovigilance.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Dec 2011
An analysis of the number of multiple prescribers for opioids utilizing data from the California Prescription Monitoring Program.
Prescription monitoring programs scrutinize the prescribing of controlled substances to diminish the utilization of multiple prescribers (aka. "doctor shopping"). The use of multiple prescribers is not a problem per se and can be legitimate, as when the patient's regular physician is not available or a concurrent painful condition is being cared for by a different practitioner. ⋯ The decision not to investigate patients who visit a low number of multiple prescribers (two to five) appears to be justifiable. If the number of providers in a given period of time is used to determine if a patient should be challenged as being a "doctor shopper," cutoffs with high specificity (low false-positive rates) should be chosen. Further epidemiologic research is needed to determine the association of the number of prescribers and misuse and/or abuse of opioids.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Dec 2011
Differences and over-time changes in levels of prescription opioid analgesic dispensing from retail pharmacies in Canada, 2005-2010.
To examine qualitative and quantitative levels and trends of prescription opioid analgesics ("opioids") use and the potential impact of prescription monitoring programs (PMPs), in the 10 Canadian provinces, for 2005-2010. ⋯ Opioid use featured significant quantitative and qualitative differences between provinces in Canada and showed an overall increasing trend mainly driven by changes in "strong opioids" in the study period. Reasons for the observed differences are not clear yet require systematic examination to allow evidence-based interventions in the interest of equitable pain treatment as well as the reduction of high levels of opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Canada.