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Drug and Therapeutics Committees in Danish Hospitals: A Survey of Organization, Activities and Drug Selection Procedures
Author(s) -
Plet Hanne T.,
Hallas Jesper,
Nielsen Gitte S.,
Kjeldsen Lene J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
basic and clinical pharmacology and toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1742-7843
pISSN - 1742-7835
DOI - 10.1111/bcpt.12028
Subject(s) - formulary , medicine , danish , drug , selection (genetic algorithm) , family medicine , pharmacology , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , artificial intelligence
To implement rational pharmacotherapy in hospitals, it is important to develop, implement and evaluate hospital drug formularies ( HDF s). A report from D enmark recommended standardizing activities of the drug and therapeutics committees ( DTC s) in D enmark, but little is known about their current organization. The aim of the study was to describe the organization of DTC s in D enmark, how HDF s are developed and implemented, and to what extent policies that support the use of HDF s exist. A questionnaire was developed based on previous research and guidelines and contained 20 questions, which were divided into the following subjects: structure, activities, drug selection and implementation. The questionnaire was sent to the chairmen of the nine DTC s in D enmark. The response rate was 100% (9/9). The DTC s varied in structure and activities; meetings were held between 2 and 6 times annually, and the duration of the meetings lasted between 1 and 2.5 hr. Eight (89%) DTC s developed HDF s, policies and guidelines ( P & G s) that supported the use of HDF s. Eight (89%) had established criteria for inclusion of drugs on the HDF s, and seven had developed criteria for generic substitution and therapeutic interchange. The number of trade names on the HDF s varied between 116 and 1195. The nine DTC s in D enmark varied considerably regarding structure and activity. The main activity was to develop formularies, and most of the committees developed policies that supported medication use.