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Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions by nurses
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Pharmacology.
2002 (English)In: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, ISSN 1053-8569, E-ISSN 1099-1557, Vol. 11, no 8, p. 647-650Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remains one of the most effective methods to detect new and serious drug reactions. However, it is well known that there is a high degree of under-reporting. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out as an attempt to improve and increase the reporting of ADRs by investigating the utility of nurses reporting in addition to physicians, as usual. METHODS: During a 12-month study period, nurses working at two departments of geriatric medicine in northern Sweden received special instruction regarding drugs and ADRs, ADR reporting and special aspects of ADRs in elderly people. The reports from the nurses were scrutinized concerning the seriousness of the reaction, reported drugs and type of reaction (type A or B). All nurses working at the two departments (117) were eligible to report but in practice only those attending the teaching sessions did so. A comparison with historical reporting and with reporting from other geriatric departments in Sweden was also carried out. At the end of the study all participating nurses received a questionnaire aimed at investigating their attitudes towards ADR reporting. RESULTS: After the 12-month study period 18 ADR reports involving 22 reactions had been received. Seven of these were assessed as serious reactions. All of the reactions were of type A. In comparison, during the corresponding time period from the study clinics during the preceding year, only two reports were registered. During the study period only 15 reports were registered from the other 50 geriatric departments in Sweden. CONCLUSION: Even though the total number of ADR reports was small, our data indicate a substantial increase in the reporting rate. This indicates that instructed and interested nurses could play an important role in detecting and reporting suspected ADRs.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2002. Vol. 11, no 8, p. 647-650
Keywords [en]
adverse drug reaction, spontaneous reporting, nurses
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-4554DOI: 10.1002/pds.753PubMedID: 12512239OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-4554DiVA, id: diva2:143702
Available from: 2005-04-29 Created: 2005-04-29 Last updated: 2019-11-25Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions: Possibilities and limitations
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions: Possibilities and limitations
2005 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) constitute a major problem in society and in drug therapy. They are a common cause of short-term hospitalization, prolonged hospitalization and death. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs remains one the most effective methods for detecting new and serious drug reactions. In Sweden physicians are legally required to report fatal and serious ADRs. We know from previous studies that there is a substantial degree of under-reporting of ADRs also in Sweden.

Attitudes towards reporting of ADRs among physicians in the northern region of Sweden were investigated using a questionnaire. The most important factor for not reporting ADRs among physicians and general practioners in our region was that the reaction was considered to be well known. However, their attitudes could also allow for a considerable rate of under-reporting.

The effect on the reporting rate when nurses received instruction and were encouraged to report ADRs was studied. During a 12-month study period, 18 ADR reports with a total number of 22 ADRs were sent in by the nurses participating in the study to test nurses as reporters of ADRs.

Using the Swedish ADR database, we calculated the risk of agranulocytosis associated with the use of metamizole by using consumption data from the case records of scrutinized patients’ and stored prescriptions. Over the period from 1996 to 1999, ten cases of agranulocytosis during treatment with metamizole were reported to SADRAC. Metamizole was prescribed to 666 (19%) inpatients during the 3-month study period and 112 prescriptions were identified at the participating pharmacies. Thirty-eight percent of them indicated treatment for more than 15 days. Making certain assumptions, the calculated risk of agranulocytosis was one out of every 31 000 inpatients and one out of every 1400 outpatients. The degree of under-reporting of serious ADRs was studied in five hospitals. More than 1300 case records were scrutinized and among these we found 107 cases that according to current rules for ADR reporting, should have been reported. Only fifteen of these were found in the SADRAC database, indicating a under-reporting rate of 86%.The effect on the reporting rate of ADRs was studied in an intervention study in which a small economical inducement was given to those who reported ADRs.

The effect of a small economical stimulation to increase the reporting rate was studied. From the intervention area we received 62 suspected ADRs compared with 50 from the control area. The increase in the number of reports was 59% compared with an unchanged reporting rate from the control area.

The physicians in northern Sweden have a relatively good knowledge of the existing rules for ADR reporting. Nurses could play an important role in detecting and reporting suspected ADRs.

The risk of developing an metamizole induced agranulocytosis is considerably increased if metamizole is given to patients for a longer time than recommended. The rate of reported ADRs is very low, also for serious and fatal reactions. An increase in the reporting rate of suspected ADRs was observed during study period.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Farmakologi och klinisk neurovetenskap, 2005. p. 74
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 961
Keywords
Pharmacology, adverse drug reactions, spontaneous reporting, metamizole, general practitioners, hospital physicians, under-reporting, economical inducement, nurses., Farmakologi
National Category
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research subject
Clinical Pharmacology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-525 (URN)91-7305-868-8 (ISBN)
Public defence
2005-06-03, Föreläsningssal E04, 6A, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus, Umeå, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2005-04-29 Created: 2005-04-29 Last updated: 2019-11-25Bibliographically approved

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Bäckström, MartinDahlqvist, Rune

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