Drug usage guidelines, Part 3: assessment of acceptance of the program

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Drug formulary inclusion requires rigorous evaluation.
• The Drug Usage Guidelines (DUG) program was implemented to streamline this process.
• Assessing the perceived effectiveness of DUGs is crucial for healthcare institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the Drug Usage Guidelines (DUG) program.
• To assess the impact of DUGs on the drug review process and formulary management.
• To determine the educational value of DUGs for physicians regarding rational therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Surveys and feedback from Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P & T) Committee members.
• Feedback from physicians who prepared and submitted DUGs.
• Analysis of participant perceptions regarding efficiency, value, and educational impact.

Main Results:

• The DUG program was perceived as an effective method for evaluating drugs for formulary inclusion.
• A majority of P & T members found the DUG program strengthened the drug review process without undue burden.
• Sixty-eight percent of physicians viewed DUGs as a valuable tool for disseminating information on rational therapeutics.

Conclusions:

• The DUG program is a successful and valuable tool for drug evaluation and formulary management.
• The program enhances the drug review process and provides significant educational benefits for physicians.
• A majority of respondents would recommend the DUG program to other hospitals, indicating its broad applicability and positive reception.