Pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes: state of the art

The objectives of this presentation are to discuss the driving forces and problem affecting providers, define pharmacoeconomics, discuss the importance and purpose of analyses, describe the analytical methodologies, discuss the implications for clinical researchers, and discuss limitations associated with the discipline. In the past, decision makers were concerned with the clinical efficacy and safety of a pharmaceutical. Today, they want information on the practice efficacy and value. This presentation will define outcomes and show how they are incorporated into economic analyses. It will review the different tools used to conduct cost effectiveness analyses, including cost identification, cost effectiveness, cost utility, cost benefit and cost consequence. It will list the steps to follow to evaluate whether or not a study is conforming to guidelines for a good cost effectiveness study, and it will list the uses of the analyses. Finally, the presentation will list recommendations that the audience might follow with regard to pharmacoeconomics.