Drug Utilization Evaluation: Methods, Applications, and Its Role in Promoting Rational Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE) is a systematic, criteria-based process used to assess and improve the appropriateness, safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of medication use. Irrational medicine use, including inappropriate prescribing, polypharmacy, incorrect dosing, unnecessary antimicrobial therapy, and poor adherence to treatment guidelines, remains an important public-health concern. DUE provides a structured approach for identifying medication-use problems and developing interventions to optimize pharmacotherapy. It may be conducted prospectively, concurrently, or retrospectively and can evaluate prescribing, dispensing, administration, and patient outcomes. Drug utilization research commonly uses the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and Defined Daily Dose (DDD) methodology to quantify and compare medicine consumption across populations and healthcare settings. Patient-level DUE further evaluates clinical parameters such as indication, dose, duration, contraindications, drug interactions, therapeutic response, adverse drug reactions, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Data may be obtained from prescriptions, medical records, pharmacy databases, electronic health records, insurance claims, hospital information systems, and dispensing records. Appropriate selection of study design, criteria, indicators, and data sources is essential for generating meaningful findings. DUE can support antimicrobial stewardship, formulary management, medication safety, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, and quality-improvement programs.  Effective DUE requires multidisciplinary collaboration among pharmacists, physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, and healthcare administrators. Continuous monitoring followed by targeted educational, administrative, or clinical interventions can improve prescribing quality and patient outcomes. Thus, DUE represents an important component of rational pharmacotherapy and evidence-based healthcare.