Strengthening Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting: Integrating Pharmacists with Physicians and Educating Future Healthcare Professionals on Pharmacovigilance Integrating Pharmacists, Physicians and enhancing ADR reporting
Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Vol. 20 No. 4 (2024),
15 Mehr 2024
,
Page 400- 411
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijps.v20i4.45461
Abstract
Underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to time constraints, limited awareness, reluctance, and legal fears demands integrating pharmacists with physicians and implementing an extensive continuing education module on pharmacovigilance for application-based learning. Our study aimed to integrate a pharmacist with a treating physician to enhance patient safety by facilitating ADR reporting, providing a continuing education module on pharmacovigilance to senior residents and interns, and providing an ADR alert card to patients. We carried out a cross-sectional study over ten months in the general medicine department of a tertiary care hospital. We integrated Doctor of Pharmacy intern students with treating physicians to facilitate easy identification of ADR and for issuing ADR alert cards. We provided a seven-day continuing education module on pharmacovigilance concepts for senior residents and final-year medical interns. We distributed an ADR alert card to 180 patients. The largest groups of patients affected by ADRs in our study were aged between 41-50 and 51-60 years, collectively accounting for nearly 50% of the affected population. Our study reported a slight female predominance (51.1%). The gastrointestinal system (31.1%), nervous system (20%), and skin and subcutaneous tissue (13.9%) were the most frequently affected organ systems, accounting for 65% of the ADRs. Most ADRs (92.2%) were not serious. Analgesics (aspirin), HMG-CoA inhibitors (atorvastatin), and antiepileptics (phenytoin) were the top three drug classes most associated with ADRs. Out of 23 participants, 21 (91.3%) correctly completed the reporting of ADR into the ADR form from anonymous case reports, identified predisposing factors, assessed causality correctly, and suggested prevention and management strategies according to the clinical scenario. Most participants (95.7%) indicated that the module significantly enhanced their awareness and comprehension of Pharmacovigilance concepts, with only a small percentage (4.3%) expressing neutral sentiment and none disagreeing. Integrating pharmacists, continuing pharmacovigilance education, and issuing ADR alert cards significantly enhanced ADR reporting, comprehension of pharmacovigilance concepts, and patient safety measures in the healthcare setting.
- Pharmacovigilance
- World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UMC) scale
- Continuing education
- Underreporting
- Aspirin
- Phenytoin
How to Cite
References
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