Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(02): 57-61
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1569291
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Subjective Reasons for Non-Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions in a Sample of Physicians in Outpatient Care

M. Gahr
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg, Ulm, Germany
,
J. Eller
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg, Ulm, Germany
,
B. J. Connemann
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg, Ulm, Germany
,
C. Schönfeldt-Lecuona
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg, Ulm, Germany
› Institutsangaben
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Publikationsverlauf

received 29. Juli 2015
revised 11. November 2015

accepted 16. November 2015

Publikationsdatum:
07. Januar 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Drug safety surveillance strongly depends on the spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). A major limiting factor of spontaneous reporting systems is underreporting (UR) which describes incorrectly low reporting rates of ADRs. Factors contributing to UR are numerous and feature country-dependent differences. Understanding causes of and factors associated with UR is necessary to facilitate targeted interventions to improve ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based telephone survey was performed among physicians in outpatient care in a federal state of Germany.

Results: From n=316 eligible physicians n=176 completed the questionnaire (response rate=55.7%). Most of the physicians (n=137/77.8%) stated that they report ADRs which they have observed to the competent authority rarely (n=59/33.5%), very rarely (n=59/33.5%) or never (n=19/10.8%); the majority (n=123/69.9%) had not reported any ADRs in 2014. Frequent subjective reasons for non-reporting of ADR were (specified response options): lack of time (n=52/29.5%), the subjective evaluation that the required process of reporting is complicated (n=47/26.7%) or requires too much time (n=25/14.2%) or the assessment that reporting of an ADR is needless (n=22/12.5%); within open answers the participants frequently stated that they do not report ADRs that are already known (n=72/40.9%) and they only report severe ADRs (n=46/26.1%).

Discussion: Our results suggest a need to inform physicians about pharmacovigilance and to modify the required procedure of ADR reporting or to offer other reporting options.

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