Using Field Studies to Value-add in Pharmacoepidemiology

Course Aim
This course provides basic theory and practical tips in conducting field studies in pharmacoepidemiology. We will illustrate research topics when field studies are most appropriate, because information is not captured in databases or when large databases are not available. We cover study designs, qualitative, quantitative as well as mixed-methods approaches. We also address how to capture the patient perspective in using medicines. The Hands on experience via a workshop will expose course participants to different scenarios about safety and utilization of medicines from different settings across the world. Participants will be actively engaged in discussing the choices to be made when designing a field study to address a specific research question. They will bring in their own research experience, the knowledge on medicine use from their health care system and setting and learn from each other. We will wrap up by summarising the added value field studies have in pharmacoepidemiology.

Requisites Statement
Basic knowledge of pharmacoepidemiology required. No mandatory pre-course preparation necessary.

Course Objectives
· To provide an overview of study designs, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches in field research in pharmacoepidemiology
· To discuss scenarios in pharmacoepidemiology research which require field studies
· To discuss strengths and limitations of different study designs and data collection methods, in particular considering how to capture patient experiences in medicine use
· To identify strategies to improve quality and reliability of field studies

Syllabus Outline
We start with four short lectures covering the following questions:
1. Where and when to use field studies in pharmacoepidemiology research?
2. Which methods can we use? An overview of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches in field studies.
3. How can we elicit the patient's lived experience with medicines in field research?
4. What are experiences in field research in pharmacoepidemiology from across the globe?

The workshop will be the core of the course addressing: What choices have to be made in field studies? And we will conclude the course with the wrap up question summarising: What is the added value of field research in pharmacoepidemiology?