Dispensing Gap Reference Day Tool

Description

Audit deidentified record coverage with an explicit grace interval; no adherence or treatment recommendation.

Drug-utilization research often reconstructs exposure from dispensing dates, supplied coverage windows, coding systems, and eligibility records. Day counts depend on endpoint and stockpiling policies. Observed records, assumed exposure, and actual medication consumption are different quantities.

Audit deidentified record coverage with an explicit grace interval; no adherence or treatment recommendation.

When to use this tool

Use Dispensing Gap Reference Day when you need this explicit exposure-record, date-window, reporting-base, or evidence-support calculation.

How to use the tool and how it works

Enter previousCoverageEnd, nextRecordStart, graceDays. Use the units and conventions below.
Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
Read gap, adjustedGap. Use the output convention below.

For nonnegative graceDays return gap=nextRecordStart-previousCoverageEnd and adjustedGap=max(0,gap-graceDays).^[1]

Input field	Meaning and units	Accepted input
previousCoverageEnd	Previous Coverage End	Required. Finite number.
nextRecordStart	Next Record Start	Required. Finite number.
graceDays	Grace Days	Required. Finite number; minimum 0.

Output field	Interpretation	Returned shape
gap	Signed difference under the formula stated above.	Required. Finite number.
adjustedGap	Adjusted Gap	Required. Finite number.

json

{
  "input": {
    "previousCoverageEnd": 10,
    "nextRecordStart": 20,
    "graceDays": 3
  },
  "output": {
    "gap": 10,
    "adjustedGap": 7
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

Negative raw gaps are retained and no inclusive-day correction is added. Grace is a supplied duration, not a clinical refill allowance or evidence of adherence.
Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Signed zero is exported as zero.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Choose a documented exposure and eligibility definition for the study before combining records. Verify the coding version, observation windows, endpoint convention, and the evidence for assumptions about carried supply.

References

Calculation and input contract: pharmacoepidemiology/dispensing-gap-reference-day — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

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Count supplied administrative refill-gap day endpoints without inferring medication use or adherence.