Application of the Waiting Time Distribution in a Nationwide Screening of Real-World Dermatology Drug Utilization for Aberrant Use Patterns

The study applied the waiting time distribution (WTD) method to analyze dermatology drug utilization in Denmark from 2018 to 2020, involving over 2 million individuals and more than 6 million prescriptions. It identified potential improper use patterns, such as short-term use of minoxidil for androgenic alopecia, suboptimal use of topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis, and increased short-course treatments with doxycycline despite antibiotic resistance concerns. The WTD method proved effective in detecting these patterns, highlighting its utility in large-scale healthcare data analysis. The study emphasizes the need for targeted follow-up to confirm inappropriate use.