title: Use of pharmacoeconomic data in making hospital formulary decisions.
abstract: The use of pharmacoeconomic data in hospital formulary decisions was explored. Data were collected from pharmacist members of pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committees in 204 Florida hospitals. Participants were asked, via a cross-sectional telephone survey, to rate 10 factors used in making formulary decisions from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important). Participants were also asked about the usual sources of pharmacoeconomic data used by the P&T committee, the types of pharmacoeconomic analyses and humanistic outcome measures that have been used by the P&T committee to make formulary decisions, and the availability of someone with pharmacoeconomic skills to assist with the formulary decision-making. The average time spent collecting data was 19 minutes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Eighty-six percent of the participants indicated that pharmacoeconomic data were used all the time or very often when formulary decisions were made, with only 6% stating that these data were rarely or never used. Pharmacoeconomic data were rated by 63% of participants to be very important in formulary decisions. The usual sources of pharmacoeconomic data listed by participants are inhouse data (75%), published literature (57%), and pharmaceutical industry studies (13%). Participants rated drug efficacy, toxicity, and side effects as the most important and avoiding use of home infusions as the least important factors in making hospital formulary decisions. About 70% of the hospitals had someone with pharmacoeconomic skills on staff, while 4% reported consulting with an external pharmacoeconomics expert. Most P&T committees in Florida hospitals relied on pharmacoeconomic data to assist them in making formulary decisions.
authors.affiliation: Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 203C Science Research Center, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA.
authors.forename: Folakemi T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Odedina
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: C Denise
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Clemmons
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005431:Florida; D005572:Formularies, Hospital as Topic; D010606:Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee / Q000458:organization & administration*