title: The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is Australia's national drug subsidy program. This paper provides a practical guide to researchers using PBS data to examine prescribed medicine use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excerpts of the PBS data collection are available in a variety of formats. We describe the core components of four publicly available extracts (the Australian Statistics on Medicines, PBS statistics online, section 85 extract, under co-payment extract). We also detail common analytical challenges and key issues regarding the interpretation of utilisation using the PBS collection and its various extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research using routinely collected data is increasing internationally. PBS data are a valuable resource for Australian pharmacoepidemiological and pharmaceutical policy research. A detailed knowledge of the PBS, the nuances of data capture, and the extracts available for research purposes are necessary to ensure robust methodology, interpretation, and translation of study findings into policy and practice.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. leigh.mellish@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mellish
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. emily.karanges@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Karanges
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. melisa.litchfield@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melisa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Litchfield
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. andrea.schaffer@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. bianca.blanch@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. benjamin.daniels@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Drug Utilisation Section, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Canberra, 2601, Australia. alicia.segrave@health.gov.au.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Segrave
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. sallie.pearson@unsw.edu.au.|Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH), University of NSW, Level 1, AGSM Building (G27), Sydney, 2052, Australia. sallie.pearson@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sallie-Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012108:Research Personnel; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs