Interpretation of drug risk and benefit: Individual and population perspectives

OBJECTIVE: To provide pharmacists with the necessary nomenclature and tools to interpret the medical literature on drug risks and benefits. DATA SOURCES: Primary articles were identified by MEDLINE search (1990-December 2003) and through secondary sources. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All of the articles identified from the data sources were evaluated, and all information from secondary sources deemed relevant was included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Articles in the primary and secondary literature were reviewed. The articles show that measurement of drug risks and benefits is consistently reported with similar terminology. However, the interpretation and subsequent balancing of risks and benefits can be difficult. CONCLUSIONS: All drugs have concomitant risks and benefits. The medical literature documents those risks and benefits and it is this medical evidence that is typically used to make drug therapy decisions. Pharmacists who either manage individual patients or populations of patients (pharmacy benefit managers) may interpret this medical evidence more clearly by understanding the implications of various statistical methods used in studies.