Term: Number of Different Types of Drugs Dispensed per User

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2013-10-30

Definition:

This is the average number of different types of drugs prescribed to each resident who had at least one prescription in the year. Each pharmaceutical agent that falls under a different fourth-level Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) class is counted as a new drug for each resident. A person could have several prescriptions for drugs in the same fourth– level ATC class, but this would only count as one drug type in that year. This essentially separates drugs used for different health problems. and avoids double-counting prescriptions for drugs in the same group. Nearly all prescriptions dispensed from community–based pharmacies across the province were included.

Exclusions:

• prescriptions drugs given to hospitalized patients and some nursing home residents in personal care homes (PCHs) with hospital–based pharmacies;
  
• prescriptions that are not covered by Manitoba Health’s Pharmacare Program;
  
• prescriptions for over the counter drugs.

NOTE: The terms "Number of Different Drugs" (Fransoo et al., 2005) and "Number of Different Prescribed Drugs" (Chartier et al., 2015) were used with essentially the same definition above.

Related concepts 

• Health Indicators: Indicators of Health Status and Healthcare Use

Related terms 

• Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Drug Classification System
• Number of Different Types of Prescription Drugs Used
• Number of Drugs (Different) Dispensed

References 

• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C, Koseva I, Bailly A, Allegro E. The 2013 RHA Indicators Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)

Term used in 

• Chartier M, Dart A, Tangri N, Komenda P, Walld R, Bogdanovic B, Burchill C, Koseva I, McGowan K-L, Rajotte L. Care of Manitobans Living with Chronic Kidney Disease. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, Burland E, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C. Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas 2009. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Chateau D, Walld R. Sex Differences in Health Status, Health Care Use, and Quality of Care: A Population-Based Analysis for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2005. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Martens P, Nickel N, Forget E, Lix L, Turner D, Prior H, Walld R, Soodeen RA, Rajotte L, Ekuma O. The Cost of Smoking: A Manitoba Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)