Using Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for pharmacoepidemiological research: challenges and approaches

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dataset is a valuable resource for pharmacoepidemiological research in Australia.
• Its extensive data on subsidised medicine dispensings offers unique research opportunities.
• However, utilizing PBS data involves specific challenges that require careful consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline common issues encountered when using the PBS dataset for research.
• To suggest practical approaches for addressing these challenges.
• To serve as an introductory guide for researchers new to PBS data analysis.

Main Methods:

• The paper reviews common data quality and interpretation issues within the PBS dataset.
• It focuses on challenges related to accurate identification of medicine dispensings.
• It discusses methods for defining and measuring medicine exposure from dispensed data.

Main Results:

• Accurate identification of medicine dispensings requires careful consideration of dispensing patterns and medication codes.
• Defining medicine exposure necessitates clear protocols for handling multiple dispensings and treatment durations.
• The paper proposes strategies to mitigate misclassification and improve exposure assessment.

Conclusions:

• Addressing challenges in medicine dispensing identification and exposure definition is crucial for robust pharmacoepidemiological research using PBS data.
• Implementing suggested approaches can enhance the validity and reliability of study findings.
• This resource aims to empower researchers to effectively leverage the PBS dataset.