Pharmacoeconomics

PHAR 773
Winter Quarter, 2004

1. Class Schedule

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 11:00 am – 12:20 pm

Class Location: Mackenzie Hall, Room 1162

The class will be broken up into 3 groups according to the schedule outlined in the attachment. For the first
week of classes, all students will be expected to attend all of the classes (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).
After the first week, Group A will attend class on Mondays, Group B on Wednesdays, and Group C on
Fridays, except where indicated on the attached schedule. You will be allowed to attend class on a day other
than the assigned day, but will not be able to participate in group discussions. However, you are expected to
attend and participate in your own group on the appropriate day.

2. General Catalog Description:

Pharmacoeconomics (3). This course covers the principles required for evidence-based medicine, including
interpreting and applying results from clinical, humanistic, and economic research to medical decision-
making. Prerequisite: PHAR 746.

3. General Goal

To understand and be able to critically evaluate methodologies used in clinical, humanistic, and economic
outcomes studies and to assess the methods used for combining outcomes.

4. Outcomes

4.1 Summarize a research study, incorporating all important aspects of a study.

4.2 Evaluate a research study report, with respect to study design, appropriate use of
statistics, unbiased presentation of results, and supported conclusions.
4.3 Compare and contrast the four types of pharmacoeconomic methods.
4.4 Differentiate among costing methods and select the most appropriate method for a
research study design.
4.5 Build a simple study decision model for an economic evaluation of a programme or
pharmaceutical.

5. Materials and Resources

5.1 Handouts: Available for purchase at the Medical/Nursing Bookstore,

Mac Hall Room 1166

5.2 Required Text:

Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes: Applications for Patient Care, 2nd ed.

5.3 Additional Supplemental Texts (not required):

Bootman JL, Townsend RJ, McGhan WF. Principles of Pharmacoeconomics, Second
Edition. 2001, Harvey Whitney Books Company, Cincinnati, OH.
Slaughter RL, Edwards DJ. Evaluating Drug Literature: A Statistical Approach. 2001,
McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
Malone PM, Mosdell KW, Kier KL, Stanovich JE. Drug Information: A Guide for
Pharmacists, 2nd ed. 1996, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
Drummond MF, O’Brien B, Stoddart GL, Torrance GW. Methods for the Economic
Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, 2nd ed. 1997, Oxford University Press,
Oxford, UK.
 5.4 Supplemental readings and handout materials that we may be prohibited from
reproducing due to copyright law may be placed on reserve at the BICC.

6. Student Activities and Requirements for Credit

6.1. Examinations
6.1.1. There will be 2 examinations given. Each examination will be weighted to
represent the number of lecture hours covered during that portion of the term.
The sum of the 2 examinations will comprise 50% of the final course grade.
Examination structure may include multiple choice and/or short answer
questions.
6.1.2. Examination material may be drawn from lecture, recitations, or required
readings.
6.1.3. Examination weighting: The midterm exam counts for 20% of final grade. The
final exam is 30% of final grade. The final exam is cumulative, although the
material tested will primarily focus on the second half of the term.
6.1.4. All examinations will be retained by the course coordinator and will not be
returned to students. A scheduled opportunity will be granted for students to
review their graded examination in the week following the examination. If a
student is unable to attend the examination review (for academic reasons or
illness only), that student will be allowed to reschedule the review. All students
must request the opportunity to reschedule with the course coordinator prior to
the scheduled review date or may forfeit their ability to review their exam.
6.1.5. Please see the course schedule for examination and examination review dates
and times.
6.1.6. There will not be any “make-up” exams offered.

6.2. Literature Reviews:

6.2.1. There will be two literature review assignments during the term.
6.2.2. Each of the literature reviews will be worth 20% of the course grade for a total
of 40%.
6.2.3. Late literature reviews will be assigned a penalty of 10% for each day it is late.
Failure to hand in a literature review will result in an incomplete standing for the
course.
6.2.4. A detailed example on how to do a literature review will be given in class.
6.2.5. You will be expected to review similar material from Dr. Aebi’s Information
Science course prior to this class.
6.2.6. The content of the literature reviews will follow the content covered in class.

6.3. Assignments:
6.3.1. There will be several (approximately 5) additional assignments throughout the
term.
6.3.2. The assignments will be take-home and must be completed within one week of
being handed out. They will closely follow the course content for that week or
two-week period.
6.3.3. The assignments will be worth 10% of your course grade. Full credit will be
given for assignments completed on time and to satisfaction of the professor. No
credit will be given for late, incomplete, or unsatisfactory assignments. The
assignments will not be graded, but an answer key will be provided for you to
review and study.
7. Expectations of Students

7.1. You will be expected to complete all assigned readings prior to class. It is strongly
recommended that you review the class notes also prior to class. These notes will help
you to determine what are the most important points that may be discussed in class.
7.2. You will be expected to participate in classroom discussions, especially when in the
smaller groups. You may be called upon in class to answer questions if you do not
voluntarily participate in the discussions.

8. Grading Policy

8.1. Your final grade will be based upon your examination scores, literature review scores,
and satisfactory completion of the assignments.
8.2. Assignment of grades following finals week will be as follows:

+ -

A 93-100 90-92

B 87-89 83-86 80-82

C 77-79 73-76 70-72

D 67-69 63-66 60-62

F <60

9. Academic Honesty
9.1. In order to be a pharmacist, rigorous academic preparation is required and academic
honesty is the rule. The ethical standards of pharmacy and other health professions are
very high. Complete honesty and integrity are essential. Therefore, the minimum
penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is an automatic F for the course and
suspension from the College of Pharmacy for one academic term. The maximum penalty
is permanent expulsion from the College of Pharmacy. Definitions and examples of
Academic Dishonesty are found in Section I. D. 1) a) and b) of Student Life Policies and
Regulations at the OSU website. Also students are encouraged to ask the course
instructors if there are any questions regarding acceptable behavior.

10. Responsible Faculty

Daniel Touchette, Pharm.D, MA

OSU College of Pharmacy, Portland Campus
Oregon Health Sciences University, MC:GH212
3181 Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239-3098

Office: Gaines Hall Room 048

Phone: 503 494-4722 Fax: 503 494-8797

Email: touchett@ohsu.edu

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 2:00 - 3:00 pm and by appointment.

11. Method for Assessing the Quality of the Course and Instruction:

Standard evaluation methods used by the College of Pharmacy.