Methodological and motivational factors affecting the surveillance of adverse events in hospitalized patients

This is a critical review of the methodological and motivational aspects of two experiences of adverse event (AE) monitoring using a surveillance diary incorporated into the progress notes of medical records. Methodological aspects of the study were that (1) AE monitoring was to become an everyday activity of ward physicians; (2) the physicians were to express their opinions concerning the causality of each AE, which was to allow the systematic detection of adverse drug reactions and unexplained AEs; (3) the surveillance diary was to include all AEs and all prescriptions, thus allowing prescription-event monitoring; (4) the time trends of unexplained AEs were to be monitored using control cards. The experiences were discontinued because the necessary investments were attributed to other competing priorities. It follows that it is essential to develop an awareness that AE surveillance requires continuous involvement insofar as it is an essential element of quality of care.