Role of clinical, patient-reported outcome and medico-economic studies in the public hospital drug formulary decision-making process: results of a European survey.
BACKGROUND
Over the past 20 years, drug information has grown rapidly, but little is known of its actual use in hospital decision-making.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the role of clinical studies (CS), patient-reported outcome studies (PROS) and medico-economic studies (MES) in public hospital drug formulary decision-making.


METHODS
A postal survey was conducted in 400 randomly selected public hospitals stratified by country (France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and profession (doctor or pharmacist).


RESULTS
The participation rate was 78% (143 doctors and 169 pharmacists), and the response rate 44%. Responders were generally interested in CS (86%), PROS (71%) and MES (71%). They reported high but unmet expectations concerning information available on PROS and MES, the methodology of these studies and interpretation of the results.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase the impact of PROS and MES, we suggest training decision-makers in the study methodology and provide them with support of health and economic experts.
Haslé-Pham
Elodie
E
MAPI Values, Le d'Aubigny, 27, rue de la Villette, 69003 Lyon, France.
Arnould
Benoit
B
Späth
Hans-Martin
HM
Follet
Alain
A
Duru
Gérard
G
Marquis
Patrick
P
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003625:Data Collection; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005060:Europe; D005569:Formularies as Topic; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010361:Patients; D012650:Self Disclosure; D016896:Treatment Outcome