Use of pharmacoeconomic data in making hospital formulary decisions

Abstract

The use of pharmacoeconomic data in hospital formulary decisions was explored. Data were collected from pharmacist members of pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committees in 204 Florida hospitals. Participants were asked, via a cross-sectional telephone survey, to rate 10 factors used in making formulary decisions from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important). Participants were also asked about the usual sources of pharmacoeconomic data used by the P&T committee, the types of pharmacoeconomic analyses and humanistic outcome measures that have been used by the P&T committee to make formulary decisions, and the availability of someone with pharmacoeconomic skills to assist with the formulary decision-making. The average time spent collecting data was 19 minutes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Eighty-six percent of the participants indicated that pharmacoeconomic data were used all the time or very often when formulary decisions were made, with only 6% stating that these data were rarely or never used. Pharmacoeconomic data were rated by 63% of participants to be very important in formulary decisions. The usual sources of pharmacoeconomic data listed by participants are inhouse data (75%), published literature (57%), and pharmaceutical industry studies (13%). Participants rated drug efficacy, toxicity, and side effects as the most important and avoiding use of home infusions as the least important factors in making hospital formulary decisions. About 70% of the hospitals had someone with pharmacoeconomic skills on staff, while 4% reported consulting with an external pharmacoeconomics expert. Most P&T committees in Florida hospitals relied on pharmacoeconomic data to assist them in making formulary decisions.