Contemporary Pharmacoeconomics

This course provides a basic understanding of the science of pharmacoeconomics. It describes the primary methods of pharmacoeconomic analysis and uses case studies to illustrate their applications in healthcare. The course also discusses how pharmacoeconomic data can be used to help gain formulary approval for pharmaceutical products.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to discuss the impact of pharmacoeconomics on hospitals, physicians, patients, and society at large; describe the basic structure of a pharmacoeconomic study; and describe and apply the pharmacoeconomic methods of cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-minimization analysis, and cost-utility analysis.  

Who Should Take This Course

Managers, sales representatives, and others who interact with those healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, and administrators, who regularly use pharmacoeconomic data or who design and conduct pharmacoeconomic studies. 

Career Applications/Benefits

With the current focus on demonstrating the value of pharmaceutical products, the science of pharmacoeconomics has gained increasing importance in the decision processes by which healthcare organizations and prescribers select drug therapies. In fact, many regulatory authorities around the world require pharmacoeconomic data at the time of drug approval. Pharmacoeconomic analyses and models described in this course can help demonstrate the value of pharmaceutical products to physicians and pharmacists interested in evidence-based decision making. This course will be of particular benefit to those who interact with managed care organizations, which are focused on ways to provide healthcare as efficiently as possible. The course also has value to anyone involved in the process of obtaining formulary approval for pharmaceutical products. 

Chapter Content 

Chapter One: The Context of Pharmacoeconomics

  • Rationale for Pharmacoeconomic Analyses
  • Components of Outcomes Research and Management
  • Benefits of Pharmacoeconomic Research

Chapter Two: Components of Pharmacoeconomic Research

  • Basic Structure of a Pharmacoeconomic Study
  • Identifying Costs
  • Identifying Consequences
  • Evaluating Pharmacoeconomic Data

Chapter Three: Review of Pharmacoeconomic Methods

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
  • Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)
  • Cost-Minimization Analysis (CMA)
  • Cost-Utility Analysis (CUA)
  • Significance of Pharmacoeconomic Analyses

Chapter Four: Case Study Review of Key Pharmacoeconomic Models

  • Case Study 1: A Cost-Minimization Analysis to Evaluate Statins for Maintenance Therapy in Patients with Coronary or Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Case Study 2: Cost-Effectiveness of Aspirin versus Alternatives to Prevent Recurrent Ischemic Stroke
  • Case Study 3: Implications of Controlling for Comorbid Conditions in Cost-of-Illness Estimates: A Case Study of Osteoarthritis from a Managed Care System Perspective
  • Case Study 4: Changes in Resource Use and Outcomes for Patients with Migraine Treated with the Serotonin (5-HT) Receptor Agonist
  • Case Study 5: Cost-Effectiveness of Product A Compared to Product B in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Chapter Five: Impact of Pharmacoeconomics

  • Impact of Pharmacoeconomics on the Formulary
  • Trends Influencing Pharmacoeconomic Research

Course Consultants 

J. Lyle Bootman, PhD, ScD
Dean, College of Pharmacy
Professor of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Public Health
Executive Director of the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic (HOPE) Research
Arizona Health Sciences Center
The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
 
C.E. (Gene) Reeder, PhD
Professor of Pharmacoeconomics
College of Pharmacy
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Course:
BUS-441
Credits:
3
Edition:
Fifth
Program(s):
CMR and CPM

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