PRISMA presentation prize for Job van Boven

During the PRISMA symposium, PhD student Job van Boven of the Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics research group ( Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy) received a prize for the best presentation. Van Boven studied the cost-effectiveness of encouraging COPD treatment adherence using protocols. While the involvement of pharmacists and more faithful use of medication raises the costs, these extra costs are compensated for by the resulting health benefits and lower number of hospital admissions. The reductions in costs could involve millions of euros. The study was published last week in Respiratory Research (2014; 15:66, 14 June 2014)

PRISMA (Praktijk Research In Samenwerking Met Apothekers: Practical research in collaboration with pharmacists) is an independent foundation aiming to coordinate, stimulate and facilitate pharmaceutical practice-related research. It links pharmaceutical researchers from institutes, hospitals and outpatient clinics with pharmacists working in regular pharmacies.