[Improving adverse drug reaction reporting by general practitioners through clinical research assistants visits]

Abstract

The main limitation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting, particularly by general practitioners (GP), to the regional pharmacovigilance centers is under-reporting. The Midi-Pyrénées Regional Pharmacovigilance Center (South western, France) sets up regular visits by a clinical research assistant (CRA) to GP in order to increase the number of ADR reports. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of regular visits of a CRA in GPs offices on the rate of ADR reporting. After one year, CRA visits permit a two-fold increase in ADR reporting.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction; Effet indésirable médicamenteux; General practitionners; Médecine générale; Pharmacovigilance; Pharmacovigilance network; Pharmacovigilance réseau; Sous-notification; Under-reporting.