PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

pharmacoepidemiology is a well recognized throughout the world scientific discipline studying the use of and the effects of drugs in the whole population or in large groups of people in order to improve efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy. Despite its relatively short history pharmacoepidemiology demonstrated significant influence on public health, due to new findings in efficacy and safety, broadening of indications lists for well recognized drugs, as well as changes in treatment strategies and prognosis for many socially-significant disorders. The history of pharmacoepidemiological studies, their methodology, practical application as well as special aspects and prospects of pharmacoepidemiology development in Russia are described in the article.