[Health services research in oncology using claims data].
BACKGROUND
Cancer is in the focus of public and scientific interest as one of the leading causes of death, with an increasing case load due to demographic changes and rising treatment costs. Comparatively, little is known about health care utilization of cancer patients.


METHODS
This article first gives an overview of health services research and claims data of German statutory health insurance funds. Second, claims data of the Gmünder ErsatzKasse (GEK) for a period of 3 months (10-12/2008) are used to analyze patterns of drug prescriptions by oncologists.


RESULTS
A total of 1.98 million prescriptions were included. Based on all prescriptions, the proportion of compounded prescriptions is about 17 times higher for oncologists compared to other physicians (34.4% vs. 2.0%). Fur- thermore, the costs of these solutions prescribed by oncologists are higher (median: 397.68 Euros vs. 15.45 Euros).


CONCLUSIONS
Health services research in oncology is urgently needed. Claims data of German health insurance funds offer a broad range of opportunities, especially when linked with other data. However, in the case of individually prepared solutions, claims data provide no further information on the drug.
Hoffmann
Falk
F
Abteilung Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik und Versorgungsforschung, ZeS, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany. hoffmann@zes.uni-bremen.de
Glaeske
Gerd
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003284:Contract Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003363:Cost Control / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011157:Population Dynamics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents