Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26526064›Full record

ArticleBMC research notes2015

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers.

Leigh Mellish, Emily A Karanges, Melisa J Litchfield, Andrea L Schaffer, Bianca Blanch, Benjamin J Daniels, Alicia Segrave, Sallie-Anne Pearson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC research notes, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 155 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
155citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

155 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  17. Trends in Government-Subsidised Menopausal Hormone Therapy Dispensing in Australia Between 2014 and 2023.The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology · 2026
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95 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Leigh MellishPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. leigh.mellish@sydney.edu.au.
Emily A KarangesPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. emily.karanges@sydney.edu.au.
Melisa J LitchfieldPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. melisa.litchfield@sydney.edu.au.
Andrea L SchafferPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. andrea.schaffer@sydney.edu.au.
Bianca BlanchPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. bianca.blanch@sydney.edu.au.
Benjamin J DanielsPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. benjamin.daniels@sydney.edu.au.
Alicia SegraveDrug Utilisation Section, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Canberra, 2601, Australia. alicia.segrave@health.gov.au.
Sallie-Anne PearsonPharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, A15, Pharmacy and Bank Building, Sydney, 2006, Australia. sallie.pearson@unsw.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is Australia's national drug subsidy program. This paper provides a practical guide to researchers using PBS data to examine prescribed medicine use.

findingsExcerpts of the PBS data collection are available in a variety of formats. We describe the core components of four publicly available extracts (the Australian Statistics on Medicines, PBS statistics online, section 85 extract, under co-payment extract). We also detail common analytical challenges and key issues regarding the interpretation of utilisation using the PBS collection and its various extracts.

conclusionsResearch using routinely collected data is increasing internationally. PBS data are a valuable resource for Australian pharmacoepidemiological and pharmaceutical policy research. A detailed knowledge of the PBS, the nuances of data capture, and the extracts available for research purposes are necessary to ensure robust methodology, interpretation, and translation of study findings into policy and practice.

Indexed as

AustraliaData CollectionDrug UtilizationGuidelines as TopicHealth PolicyHumansInsurance, Pharmaceutical ServicesPharmacoepidemiologyPrescription DrugsProduct Surveillance, PostmarketingResearch PersonnelTime FactorsPrescription Drugs

Identifiers

PMID26526064
PMCPMC4630883

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.