University of Salerno, Dipartimento di Scienze Umane, Filosofiche e della Formazione (DISUFF), Via Ponte don Melillo 1, Fisciano, SA, Italy.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2013 Feb;22(2):130-7. doi: 10.1002/pds.3384. Epub 2012 Nov 26.
Networks exist in many different aspects of the world, at social, economical, biological, and molecular levels. Network science studies their parameters, or quantitative indicators; its instruments make it possible to draw and analyze networks from a mathematical perspective. The present study is an attempt to apply network science techniques to the drug prescription process, a typical subject of Epidemiology for Public Health studies.
A drug prescription network was created using the set of drug prescriptions written during a 6-month period by a group of 99 general practitioners (GPs) operating in Italy. In this network, named co-prescription network, each drug represented a node, and different drugs prescribed to the same patient at the same moment were considered linked together. Drug prescription data for a total of 42 965 patients and 631 232 drug packages were studied. A number of co-prescription networks were obtained and analyzed on the basis of different subsets of patients by age and gender. The network parameters were measured and compared for the various subsets.
All the drug prescription networks studied showed scale invariance behavior. The age- and gender-related co-prescription networks showed different patterns, with different levels of complexity.
The present study shows that the drug prescription process has specific network aspects and dynamics and, more generally, that it is possible to apply instruments of network science to study public health phenomena from a new, different perspective. Further studies should be encouraged and performed.
网络存在于世界的许多不同方面，包括社会、经济、生物和分子等层面。网络科学研究其参数或定量指标；其工具使得从数学角度绘制和分析网络成为可能。本研究试图将网络科学技术应用于药物处方过程，这是公共卫生流行病学研究的一个典型主题。
使用意大利一组 99 名全科医生（GP）在 6 个月期间开具的一组药物处方创建了一个药物处方网络。在这个名为共处方网络的网络中，每种药物都代表一个节点，同一患者在同一时间开的不同药物被认为是相互关联的。共处方网络分析了总共 42965 名患者和 631232 个药物包的数据。根据年龄和性别对不同的患者子集进行了一系列共处方网络的构建和分析。对各种子集中的网络参数进行了测量和比较。
所有研究的药物处方网络都表现出标度不变性行为。年龄和性别相关的共处方网络显示出不同的模式，具有不同程度的复杂性。
本研究表明，药物处方过程具有特定的网络方面和动态，更普遍地说，有可能应用网络科学工具从新的、不同的角度研究公共卫生现象。应鼓励并开展进一步的研究。
