Journal article
Web search query volume as a measure of pharmaceutical utilization and changes in prescribing patterns
Research in social and administrative pharmacy, Vol.10(6), pp.896-903
11/01/2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2014.01.003
PMID: 24603135
Abstract
Background: Monitoring prescription drug utilization is important for both drug safety and drug marketing purposes. However, access to utilization data is often expensive, limited and not timely.
Objectives: To demonstrate and validate the use of web search engine queries as a method for timely monitoring of drug utilization and changes in prescribing behaviors.
Methods: Drug utilization time series were obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and normalized search volume was obtained from Google Trends. Correlation between the series was estimated using a cross-correlation function. Changes in the search volume following knowledge events were detected using a cumulative sums changepoint method.
Results: Search volume tracks closely with the utilization rates of several seasonal prescription drugs. Additionally, search volume exhibits changes following known major knowledge events, such as the publication of new information.
Conclusions: Search volume provides a first order approximation to pharmaceutical utilization in the community and can be used to detect changes in prescribing behavior. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Web search query volume as a measure of pharmaceutical utilization and changes in prescribing patterns
- Creators
- Jacob E. Simmering - University of IowaLinnea A. Polgreen - University of IowaPhilip M. Polgreen - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Research in social and administrative pharmacy, Vol.10(6), pp.896-903
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.sapharm.2014.01.003
- PMID
- 24603135
- NLM abbreviation
- Res Social Adm Pharm
- ISSN
- 1551-7411
- eISSN
- 1934-8150
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/01/2014
- Academic Unit
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Infectious Diseases; Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Economics; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359888702771
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