The study shows that many pharmacists do not report adverse drug reactions.

Early detection of adverse drug reactions can help avoid serious side effects, but many pharmacists do not report this, according to a study published Tuesday by a group of researchers from Porto.

“This problem of underreporting suspected adverse drug reactions is not exclusively a Portuguese, European or professional problem for pharmacists. [mas é certo que] early detection of adverse reactions can help minimize damage and avoid serious and even fatal side effects,” the researchers explain.

The team brings together researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) and the Research Center for Medical Technologies and Services (CINTESIS).

According to information sent to the Lusa agency, “more than half of local pharmacists are not in the habit of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and about half have never reported suspicions.”

This conclusion is based on a study conducted by interviewing about 200 local pharmacists in the Porto area.

The aim was to assess the motivation and level of knowledge of specialists about spontaneous reports of adverse reactions.

The data showed that 53% of respondents never reported suspected ADR.

Only 42% are in the habit of regularly reporting these cases.

The results also showed that more than half of the pharmacists who had already notified (64%) reported that they had no difficulty in the process.

A study published in the Journal of Community Health emphasizes that reporting suspected side effects is “extremely important for public health and patient safety.”

Based on the survey conducted, the authors of the study present a series of proposals proposed by the pharmacists of Porto, with the aim of improving the National Pharmacovigilance System (SNV).

The simplification and optimization of the notification process, as well as the integration of notification forms into the information systems of community pharmacies were the main measures listed by the professionals.

Among other proposals, we also highlight the implementation of pharmacovigilance training programs for pharmacists, the need for “feedback” from the SNF for each reported case, and the regulatory impact of notification.

“It is desirable to reverse this trend of underreporting among healthcare professionals, even if the drugs launched on the market this Tuesday have a more robust safety profile than in the past,” the authors conclude.

The authors of the study entitled “Motivation and knowledge of Portuguese community pharmacists to report suspected adverse drug reactions” are researchers Renato Ferreira da Silva, Joao Miguel Alves, Carina Vieira, Ana Marta Silva, Joana Marques, Manuela Morato, Jorge Junqueira Poland and Ines Ribeiro Vas.