Table 1 Core variables present in the PBS data collection. Availability to researchers depends on the data extract
From: The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers
Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
Medicine details | |
ATC code | Internationally accepted, WHO-defined codesa that classify medicines over five levels, starting broadly with the anatomical site of action (e.g. nervous system) and ending specifically with the chemical substance (e.g. oxycodone) [44] |
PBS item code | Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme defined codes that provide medicine details at the product level, including generic name, form, strength, administration route, quantity per unit (pack size), and approved indication, where applicable |
Medicine section | Classification according to section of the PBS Schedule (section 85 or 100) |
Prescription details | |
Date of prescription | Date on which the prescription was written |
Date of supply | Date on which the medicine was supplied/dispensed by the pharmacy or hospital |
Date of processing | Date on which the claim was processed by DHS |
Prescription type | Describes whether the prescription is an original, repeat, deferred supply, authority, etc |
Total cost | The gross price of the prescription, including the patient contribution plus the net benefit |
Patient contribution | The amount paid by the patient for the prescription |
Government contribution | The benefit paid to the pharmacy by the Australian Government |
Prescription category | The program under which the prescription was dispensed (e.g. PBS, RPBS, under co-payment, private etc.) |
Regulation 24 status | Indicates that the original supply and all repeats were dispensed at once |
Streamlined authority code | Indicates the physician-declared indication or reason for prescription for Authority required (STREAMLINED) medicines |
Patient details | |
Patient identifier | A unique, scrambled patient identifier provided by the Australian Government, allowing derivation of additional patient characteristics such as age (via date of birth), sex and geographical location |
Patient category | The beneficiary status of the patient (e.g. concessional, general, safety net, doctor's bag, under co-payment, Closing the Gap); determines how much the patient contributes to their medicine cost |
Patient location | The location (e.g. state, statistical local area) of the patient |
Measures of utilisation | |
Quantity | The quantity of medicine supplied to the patient |
Number of dispensings/scripts | The number of prescriptions dispensed (including original and repeat) |
DDD/1000 pop/day | A measure of utilisation based around the WHO Defined Daily Dose (DDD), allowing for standardisation of use across different countries and drug formulations; provides a rough estimate of the proportion of the population treated daily with the medicine of interest [45] |
Prescriber information | |
Prescriber identifier | A unique, scrambled number identifying the prescribing doctor |
Prescriber specialty | Identifies the specialty of the prescribing doctor (e.g. general practitioner, psychiatrist etc.) |
Prescriber location | The location (e.g. state, statistical local area) of the prescribing doctor |
Pharmacy information | |
Pharmacy identifier | A unique, scrambled number identifying the dispensing pharmacy |
Pharmacy location | The location (e.g. state) of the dispensing pharmacy |