Description
Apply an explicit stockpile duration cap to deidentified exposure-record overlap without inferring medicine use.
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.
Apply an explicit stockpile duration cap to deidentified exposure-record overlap without inferring medicine use.
When to use this tool
Use Exposure Overlap Stockpile Term 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 priorEnd, nextStart, suppliedCarryCap. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read overlap, carriedDuration. Use the output convention below.
For nonnegative suppliedCarryCap return overlap=max(0,priorEnd-nextStart) and carriedDuration=min(suppliedCarryCap,overlap).1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| priorEnd | Prior End | Required. Finite number. |
| nextStart | Next Start | Required. Finite number. |
| suppliedCarryCap | Maximum credited overlap in the same duration unit as the endpoints. | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| overlap | Overlap | Required. Finite number. |
| carriedDuration | Carried Duration | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"priorEnd": 20,
"nextStart": 15,
"suppliedCarryCap": 3
},
"output": {
"overlap": 5,
"carriedDuration": 3
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Coordinates and cap use one duration unit and a shared endpoint convention. No inclusive-day correction is added, and a capped overlap is not evidence of actual stockpiling or medication use.
- 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
Similar or alternative tools
- Drug Exposure Gap Allowance
Audit supplied administrative exposure-record gaps under explicit day-end/allowance conventions without inferring medicine use.
- Exposure Episode Offset Credit
Shift supplied half-open record episodes and remove explicitly supplied overlap credit.