Ep. Armstrong, Study design - Evaluating low molecular weight heparins within a health system: Issues and strategies, FORMULARY, 34(2), 1999, pp. 144-148
Health organizations interested in designing an outcomes or pharmacoeconomi
c study on the low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) first need to clearly
define the study questions they wish to answer, which may vary based on stu
dy perspective and organizational setting, Important clinical endpoints to
assess include development of pulmonary emboli, recurrent thrombosis, impro
vement in clinical signs and symptoms, major bleeding episodes, and length
of hospitalization. Important economic endpoints to assess include drug cos
ts, laboratory monitoring costs, administration costs, and complication cos
ts. Results obtained from properly designed studies will assist health syst
ems in more clearly defining the role of LMWHs within their organizations.