title: The population-based prescription database IADB.nl: its development, usefulness in outcomes research and challenges.
abstract: Research databases with large numbers of prescriptions in observational settings can provide valuable information in addition to the initial randomized controlled trials. This paper reports on the development of prescription database IADB, formerly known as InterAction Database. IADB contains prescriptions from 54 community pharmacies in The Netherlands and covers a population of 500,000 people. Both the age distribution and the prevalence of drugs used are comparable to a large extent with the Dutch population. The representativeness of the population covered is examined by comparing population composition and drug use with data of the whole Dutch population. Enriching IADB with, among others, clinical parameters by linking to other databases is explored. A strong and unique aspect of IADB is the possibility to track patients over time, even when they receive their medication from different pharmacies. The authors conclude IADB is a useful tool for pharmacoepidemiological and pharmacoeconomic outcomes research.
authors.affiliation: Unit of PharmacoEpidemiology & PharmacoEconomics (PE2), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. s.t.visser@rug.nl
authors.forename: Sipke T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Catharina C M
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Schuiling-Veninga
authors.forename: Jens H J
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Lolkje T W
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: de Jong-van den Berg
authors.forename: Maarten J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Postma
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000379:methods; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs