University of Florida

Research methods from a variety of disciplines including but not limited to psychology, law, ethics, sociology, and political science, are applied to pharmaceutical outcomes. The research examines factors related to the unintended adverse effects of medications and interventions to enhance the safe use of medicines by improving medication use systems, changing provider or patient behavior, and informing public policy. Advanced training in these research methods includes:

• the structure and function of medication use systems
• psycho-social theory
• principles of psychometric measurement and survey research
• quantitative (experimental, quasi-experimental and observational studies) and qualitative (bioethics, ethnographic) methods
• quality assessment and continuous quality improvement
• program evaluation

With a concentration in patient safety and medication use the graduate will be able to develop regulatory and public policy initiatives that affect the use of medications in society, conduct quality assurance programs related to medication use, and evaluate programs to prevent, detect and resolve medication errors and improve patient safety for application in either the public or private sector.