Program coordinated by a drug information service to improve adverse drug reaction reporting in a hospital

A program coordinated by a drug information service to improve adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting in a hospital is described. At a 520-bed teaching hospital, the drug information service was asked to design a new adverse drug reaction reporting system that would encourage clinicians to report ADRs. A new system was implemented on a general medical unit: A physician, pharmacist, or nurse telephoned the drug information service when an adverse drug reaction was suspected, and drug information personnel followed up on the report, completing all subsequent investigation and documentation. A standard algorithm was used to evaluate causality of the reported reactions. Pertinent data were entered on a form and retained in the drug information service. The primary physician's approval was obtained before a reaction could be reported on an FDA drug-experience form. Drug information service personnel reviewed the ADR data monthly to detect any trends that clinicians should be aware of and to prepare a report for the pharmacy and therapeutics committee. Nurses, physicians, and pharmacy personnel were oriented to the new system before its implementation and were subsequently informed about reported ADRs and use of the system through newsletters and meetings. In the initial three-month period, 23 ADRs involving 19 drugs were reported from the medical unit; in a six-month period before development of the new system, no ADRs had been reported. This ADR reporting system developed and implemented by the drug information service was effective in improving reporting of adverse drug reactions.