Abstract

Purpose:Drug utilization research (DUR) contributes to inform policymaking and tostrengthen health systems. The availability of data sources is the first step for con-ducting DUR. However, documents that systematize these data sources in LatinAmerican (LatAm) countries are not known. We compiled the potential data sourcesfor DUR in the LatAm region.Methods:A network of DUR experts from nine LatAm countries was assembled andexperts conducted: (i) a website search of the government, academic, and privatehealth institutions; (ii) screening of eligible data sources, and (iii) liaising with nationalexperts in pharmacoepidemiology (via an online survey). The data sources were char-acterized by accessibility, geographic granularity, setting, sector of the data, sourcesand type of the data. Descriptive analyses were performed.Results:We identified 125 data sources for DUR in nine LatAm countries. Thirty-eight (30%) of them were publicly and conveniently available; 89 (71%) were accessi-ble with limitations, and 18 (14%) were not accessible or lacked clear rules for dataaccess. From the 125 data sources, 76 (61%) were from the public sector only;46 (37%) were from pharmacy records; 43 (34%) came from ambulatory settings and;85 (68%) gave access to individual patient-level data.Conclusions:Although multiple sources for DUR are available in LatAm countries,the accessibility is a major challenge. The procedures for accessing DUR data shouldbe transparent, feasible, affordable, and protocol-driven. This inventory could permita comparison of drug utilization between countries identifying potential medication-related problems that need further exploration.