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Validation of an electronic, population-based prescription database
1Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|November 24, 1998
Summary
Manitoba's electronic prescription database (DPIN) is mostly reliable for research. However, it underrepresents prescriptions for Indigenous populations, impacting pharmacoepidemiologic studies.
Area of Science:
- Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Pharmacoepidemiology
Background:
- The Drug Programs Information Network (DPIN) is Manitoba's electronic prescription database.
- DPIN is a valuable resource for pharmacoepidemiologic research.
- Prescription data submission for certain populations (social assistance, treaty status Indians) is discretionary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the completeness of the DPIN prescription database.
- To determine if treaty status Indians and social assistance recipients are underrepresented in DPIN.
- To evaluate the validity and reliability of DPIN for research.
Main Methods:
- A stratified sample of Manitoba pharmacies was used.
- Prescriptions dispensed during a specific week were linked to DPIN.
- DPIN Pharmacare records were compared with original pharmacy records for accuracy.
Main Results:
- DPIN captured 79.7% of Indian Affairs and 90.1% of Social Services prescriptions.
- These capture rates were lower than the 93% for Pharmacare prescriptions.
- 92% of DPIN Pharmacare prescriptions accurately matched original records.
Conclusions:
- DPIN is a valid and reliable data source for most Manitoban residents.
- The DPIN database exhibits differential validity.
- Prescriptions for the aboriginal population are underrepresented in DPIN.