Social Pharmacology: Conceptual Remarks

Abstract

Traditionally, knowledge about drug mechanism of action and clinical use was derived largely from studies conducted by clinical pharmacologists and therapeutic specialists. More recently, a broader concept of drug use, social pharmacology, has attracted growing interest and recognition. Building on the foundation provided by clinical research, this discipline encompasses the multiple dimensions associated with “real world” use of drugs during the postmarketing period. Physicians, pharmacists, nurses, biologists, epidemiologists, and economists, together with lawyers and regulators, insurance specialists, and communications specialists all contribute to this broader assessment of drug use. Thus, social pharmacology brings together a broad collection of disciplines pertaining to evaluating the efficacy, safety, effectiveness, compliance, self-medication, and consumption of economic resources associated with the use of pharmaceutical products. Application of evidence-based treatment guidelines; measures of drug utilization in both individual patients and in populations; safety assessments; and use of quality assurance tools, including formularies, are among the tools used to direct and evaluate product use. This report seeks to describe these new relationships, suggest integrative methodologies, and identify critical public policy issues.

Social Pharmacology: Expanding horizons

“…However, today social pharmacology is a vast discipline which gives special emphasis on the postmarketing period of drugs and other medicinal products. [ 12 ]…”

“…[ 6 15 ] The author (Alloza) defines “social pharmacology as a multidisciplinary science and dynamic system that harmonizes the critical and influential elements in the use of marketed drugs and the interrelationships, among health professionals, who directly or indirectly participate in health care, either by providing a service or improving drug therapy”. [ 12 ]…”

“…Many vectors can connect with different components and explores options for future research. [ 12 ] The pharmaceutical industry should play a crucial role in the discovery of new drugs, which are medically and socially desirable. Pharmaceutical companies are also concerned in this domain for providing drug information to doctors as well as to patients.…”

“…Thus, this discipline has expanded its horizon and enriched the specialty by incorporating the contributions from physicians, pharmacists, nurses, biologists, drug epidemiologists, health economists, lawyers, regulators, insurance specialists, and communications specialists. [ 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ]…”

Social Pharmacology: A Further Step in Public Health

“…However, the newer direction and development of Social Pharmacology started in the 80's and largely matches Dr. Wilson's usage [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Since then, the concept of Social Pharmacology has evolved and this new discipline explores the multiple dimensions of medical drug use during the postmarketing period.…”