Pharmacoepidemiology combines pharmacology and epidemiology to study drug use patterns among large populations. Researchers analyze prescribing patterns, patient compliance, and drug safety to develop new protocols and safety alerts. Students interested in this field should pursue graduate degrees in biology, pre-medicine, or pharmacology and gain research experience.
Pharmacoepidemiology is an interdisciplinary science that combines aspects of pharmacology and epidemiology to study patterns of drug use among large populations. Specialists in this field are interested in the effects of drugs on humans, how drugs are used, and other topics related to drug prescribing and use around the world in a variety of contexts. Several universities offer graduate-level training in pharmacoepidemiology for people interested in working in this field.
Researchers involved in pharmacoepidemiology projects may draw on a variety of skills. They must be able to compile, process and interpret data in a meaningful way. Some people are biostatisticians and are familiar with the application of statistical analysis to medical research. This skill can be used to convert thousands of pages of data into more succinct graphs and short documents that convey critical information in an accessible format. Other people are more interested in fieldwork, interviewing patients, and designing experimental studies.
People in this field look at prescribing patterns among physicians to identify trends such as spikes in prescribing patterns and trends to prescribe more for certain populations. They also study patient compliance, doctor-patient interactions, and the role of professionals such as pharmacists in patient treatment and recovery. Pharmacoepidemiology studies can be used for everything from developing new protocols for educating patients about the safe use of medicines to linking environmental problems with prescription drugs released into waterways.
An important aspect of pharmacoepidemiology is pharmacovigilance, a discipline that provides for the traceability of drugs currently on the market. While drugs are rigorously tested for safety and efficacy during development, it’s not uncommon for problems to be discovered after the drugs are released onto the open market. Pharmacoepidemiologists track reports of side effects, deaths, and other problems. This information can be used to generate new safety alerts and prescribing information, and sometimes to take a drug off the market altogether.
Individuals interested in a career in pharmacoepidemiology can prepare early by taking high school math and science classes and pursuing graduate degrees in topics such as biology, pre-medicine, and pharmacology. For graduate school, students should look for pharmacoepidemiology programs that carry out research that coincides with their interests. Laboratory experience and a history of working on research projects is very beneficial for graduate applications, as graduate schools tend to be very competitive and can afford to pick the most qualified candidates. Strong letters of recommendation from people working in the field are also very valuable.
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