Physician reporting of adverse drug reactions. Results of the Rhode Island Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Project
H. D. Scott, A. Thacher-Renshaw, S. E. Rosenbaum, W. J. Waters Jr, M. Green, L. G. Andrews and G. A. Faich
Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence 02908-5097.
The Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md, contracted with the Rhode
Island Department of Health, Providence, to conduct a project to increase
reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions through physician education.
Voluntary reporting, an important part of postmarketing surveillance that
signals potential problems with marketed drugs, historically has been
underused by physicians. After 2 years, there was a more than 17-fold
increase in reports submitted directly from Rhode Island compared with the
yearly average before initiation of the project. Increases in the total
numbers of reports were paralleled by significant increases in the numbers
of reports of severe reactions. Similar increases were not experienced
nationally. Physicians in Rhode Island were surveyed before and 2 years
after interventions began to determine changes in knowledge and attitudes
about reporting of adverse drug reactions. Significant gains in knowledge
and positive attitudes toward the reporting system occurred. We conclude
that physicians can be stimulated to increase their reporting of suspected
reactions, thereby improving the viability of the federal reporting system.
