Abstract
•Countries across the world have organized their health care systems in different ways in terms of funding, structure and mode of operation. Comparative studies on drug utilization are valuable tools to promote development of health systems.
•Drug utilization studies may compare health system factors related to legislation for drug approval, prescribing regulations, drug supply structures, financing models and strategies by which to promote access to essential medicines and the quality use of medicines.
•A variety of methodological approaches have been used to compare drug utilization between health care systems. Further research is needed to develop good indicators for comparison purposes.
•There are currently few comparative studies of self‐medication and drugs sold directly to the consumer without a prescription, but they have been gaining increasing attention recently due to quality and safety concerns.
•Drug utilization studies may compare health system factors related to legislation for drug approval, prescribing regulations, drug supply structures, financing models and strategies by which to promote access to essential medicines and the quality use of medicines.
•A variety of methodological approaches have been used to compare drug utilization between health care systems. Further research is needed to develop good indicators for comparison purposes.
•There are currently few comparative studies of self‐medication and drugs sold directly to the consumer without a prescription, but they have been gaining increasing attention recently due to quality and safety concerns.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Drug Utilization Research |
| Subtitle of host publication | Methods and Applications |
| Editors | Monique Elseviers, Björn Wettermark, Anna Birna Almarsdóttir, Morten Andersen, Ria Benko, Marion Bennie, Irene Eriksson, Brian Godman, Janet Krska, Elisabetta Poluzzi, Katja Taxis, Vera Vlahović-Palčevski, Robert Vander Stichele |
| Place of Publication | West Sussex |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Chapter | 18 |
| Pages | 194-202 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118949788 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Apr 2016 |
Keywords
- comparative studies
- health system
- over the counter medication
Cite this
Luz, T. C. B., Serpa Osorio-de-Castro, C. G., & Wettermark, B. (2016). Comparative studies on health systems. In M. Elseviers, B. Wettermark, A. B. Almarsdóttir, M. Andersen, R. Benko, M. Bennie, I. Eriksson, B. Godman, J. Krska, E. Poluzzi, K. Taxis, V. Vlahović-Palčevski, & R. Vander Stichele (Eds.), Drug Utilization Research: Methods and Applications (pp. 194-202). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118949740.ch18