340.682.01 PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY METHODS

Acquaints students with the key elements of pharmacoepidemiology. Explores the utilization and effects of drugs in large numbers of people. Discusses the application of epidemiological methods to pharmacological issues. Focuses heavily on questions of pharmacodynamics, concentrating on clinical patient outcomes and on therapeutics (i.e., appropriate use of drugs). Applies the research methods of clinical epidemiology (e.g., randomized trials, cohort studies, case-control studies) to the content area of pharmacology (e.g., determinants of beneficial and adverse drug effects, effects of genetic variation on drug effect, dose-response relationships, duration-response relationships, clinical effects of potential drug-drug interactions, effects of non-adherence). Examines programmatic efforts to improve medication use on a population basis.

After completing this course, you should be able to: 1. Describe the development of the drug regulation processes in the United States 2. Recognize the role of industry in drug development 3. Appraise pharmacovigilance systems 4. Access different data sources for pharmacoepidemiology studies 5. Apply epidemiological techniques to questions about drug effectiveness or drug safety