Challenges facing drug utilization research in the Latin American region

The aim of the article is to analyze the events in the Latin American region in 2019, which took a form of social protests known as the "Latin American Spring". Although the duration, methods, reach, dynamics and degree of radicalization differed from country to country, a common regional characterization can be made. The article analyzes the causes of the protests and places them in the historical, political, economic and social context, indicating many similarities and common features. The article is based on participant observations (in Chile and Argentina) and an analysis of media relations and reports prepared by foreign research centers.

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Drug utilization research: a review

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20190161 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 354

Author(s):

Dinesh Kumar Meena ◽

M. Jayanthi

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Drug Utilization ◽

Economic Consequences ◽

Health Policies ◽

Utilization Research ◽

Different Types ◽

Drug Utilization Research ◽

Ultimate Purpose ◽

Optimal Quality

Data from drug utilization research is an invaluable resource for all stake holders involved in drug and health policies. Drug utilization is “marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences”. Research on drug utilization includes factors related to prescribing, dispensing, administering and intake of medication and its associated events. The ultimate purpose of drug utilization research is to estimate the optimal quality of drug therapy by identifying, documenting, analysing problems in drug utilization and monitoring the consequences. It encourages the prescribers to prescribe correct drug at appropriate dose and affordable price. It contributes to the knowledge of rational use of drugs in the society; whether the drug is being prescribed appropriately, whether the drug is taken in correct dosage, whether the drug is available at affordable price or misused. It provides valuable feedback about the rationality of the prescription to the doctors. It also assesses whether an intervention affects the drug use in the population by examining the outcomes of different types of intervention given to improve rationality in drug use. Drug utilization research can be qualitative or quantitative and can be done by various methods. This review highlights the understanding of various aspects, different designs and WHO guidelines for conducting drug utilization research.

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Community-Based Participatory Research and Drug Utilization Research to improve Childhood Diarrhea Case Management in Ujjain, India: A Cross Sectional Survey

10.20944/preprints201905.0109.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Aditya Mathur ◽

Devendra Baghel ◽

Jitendra Jaat ◽

Vishal Diwan ◽

Ashish Pathak

Keyword(s):

Case Management ◽

Drug Utilization ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Household Waste ◽

Care Providers ◽

Childhood Diarrhea ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Utilization Research ◽

Drug Utilization Research

Childhood diarrhea continues to be a major cause of under-five (U-5) mortality globally and in India. In this study, 1571 U-5 children residing in nine rural villages and four urban slums in Ujjain, India were included with the objective to use community participation and drug utilization research to improve diarrheal case management. The mean age was 2.08 years, with 297 (19%), children living in high diarrheal index households. Most mothers (70%) considered stale food, teething (62%) and hot weather (55%) as causes of diarrhea. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related characteristics revealed that most (93%) households had toilets, but only 23% children used them. The study identified ineffective household water treatment by filtration through cloth by most (93%) households and dumping of household waste on streets (89%). The results revealed low community awareness of correct causes of diarrhea (poor hand hygiene, 21%; littering around the household, 15%) and of correct diarrhea treatment (oral rehydration solution [ORS] and zinc use, 29% and 11%, respectively) and a high antibiotic prescription rate by health care providers (83%). Based on the results of the present study, context-specific house-to-house interventions will be designed and implemented.

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