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Reporting of adverse drug reactions may be influenced by feedback to the reporting doctor

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate two different feedback alternatives to doctors reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) concerning (1) effects on reporting rates and (2) doctors’ opinions.

Methods

When reporting an ADR during January through March 2006, doctors in the western part of Sweden were randomised according to working address to receive feedback I or feedback II. Feedback I consisted of the conventional mode of feedback. Feedback II consisted of the contents of feedback I supplemented with information on the reported drug from the regional drug information centre. A questionnaire was administered 2 weeks after the feedback. The doctors were asked to give their opinion on the feedback concerning amount of information, quality and overall impression on a 6-point scale, where 1 corresponded to too little/very bad and 6 to too much/very good. During the inclusion period and the 6-month follow-up period, additional ADR reports originating from receivers of either feedback I or II were identified and compared.

Results

Sixty-six doctors received feedback I, and 49 received feedback II. The number of doctors reporting more than once was greater in the group receiving feedback II (39% vs. 22%; P = 0.039). Feedback II was judged to contain more information than feedback I (4.1 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 0.9; P = 0.014). No difference between the feedback alternatives concerning doctors’ opinions on quality and overall impression could be detected. Sixty-five doctors (70%) stated that the content of the feedback letter could affect their willingness to report ADRs.

Conclusion

The content of the feedback to doctors reporting ADRs may influence reporting rates.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Staffan Svensson, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, for the randomisation procedure.

Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE–413 45, Göteborg, Sweden

    Susanna M. Wallerstedt, Gertrud Brunlöf, Marie-Louise Johansson & Carina Tukukino

  2. Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE–413 45, Göteborg, Sweden

    Lars Ny

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, SE–413 45, Göteborg, Sweden

    Susanna M. Wallerstedt

Authors
  1. Susanna M. Wallerstedt
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  2. Gertrud Brunlöf
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  3. Marie-Louise Johansson
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  4. Carina Tukukino
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  5. Lars Ny
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susanna M. Wallerstedt.

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Wallerstedt, S.M., Brunlöf, G., Johansson, ML. et al. Reporting of adverse drug reactions may be influenced by feedback to the reporting doctor. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 63, 505–508 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-007-0270-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-007-0270-z

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