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Generating Real-World Evidence on the Quality Use, Benefits and Safety of Medicines in Australia: History, Challenges and a Roadmap for the Future

Author

Listed:
  • Sallie-Anne Pearson

    (Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Nicole Pratt

    (Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia)

  • Juliana de Oliveira Costa

    (Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Helga Zoega

    (Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
    Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Tracey-Lea Laba

    (Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia)

  • Christopher Etherton-Beer

    (WA Centre for Health and Ageing, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia)

  • Frank M. Sanfilippo

    (WA Centre for Health and Ageing, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia)

  • Alice Morgan

    (Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia)

  • Lisa Kalisch Ellett

    (Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia)

  • Claudia Bruno

    (Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Erin Kelty

    (WA Centre for Health and Ageing, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia)

  • Maarten IJzerman

    (Centre for Cancer Research and Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • David B. Preen

    (WA Centre for Health and Ageing, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia)

  • Claire M. Vajdic

    (Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • David Henry

    (Institute for Evidence Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast 4229, Australia)

Abstract

Australia spends more than $20 billion annually on medicines, delivering significant health benefits for the population. However, inappropriate prescribing and medicine use also result in harm to individuals and populations, and waste of precious health resources. Medication data linked with other routine collections enable evidence generation in pharmacoepidemiology; the science of quantifying the use, effectiveness and safety of medicines in real-world clinical practice. This review details the history of medicines policy and data access in Australia, the strengths of existing data sources, and the infrastructure and governance enabling and impeding evidence generation in the field. Currently, substantial gaps persist with respect to cohesive, contemporary linked data sources supporting quality use of medicines, effectiveness and safety research; exemplified by Australia’s limited capacity to contribute to the global effort in real-world studies of vaccine and disease-modifying treatments for COVID-19. We propose a roadmap to bolster the discipline, and population health more broadly, underpinned by a distinct capability governing and streamlining access to linked data assets for accredited researchers. Robust real-world evidence generation requires current data roadblocks to be remedied as a matter of urgency to deliver efficient and equitable health care and improve the health and well-being of all Australians.

Suggested Citation

  • Sallie-Anne Pearson & Nicole Pratt & Juliana de Oliveira Costa & Helga Zoega & Tracey-Lea Laba & Christopher Etherton-Beer & Frank M. Sanfilippo & Alice Morgan & Lisa Kalisch Ellett & Claudia Bruno & , 2021. "Generating Real-World Evidence on the Quality Use, Benefits and Safety of Medicines in Australia: History, Challenges and a Roadmap for the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13345-:d:705680
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Teyl Engstrom & Dolly O. Baliunas & Benjamin P. Sly & Anthony W. Russell & Peter J. Donovan & Heike K. Krausse & Clair M. Sullivan & Jason D. Pole, 2021. "Toilet Paper, Minced Meat and Diabetes Medicines: Australian Panic Buying Induced by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Tanvi Desai & Felix Ritchie & Richard Welpton, 2016. "Five Safes: designing data access for research," Working Papers 20161601, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julie Gordon & Helena Britt & Graeme C. Miller & Joan Henderson & Anthony Scott & Christopher Harrison, 2022. "General Practice Statistics in Australia: Pushing a Round Peg into a Square Hole," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Richard Madden & Nicola Fortune & Julie Gordon, 2022. "Health Statistics in Australia: What We Know and Do Not Know," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.

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