Extensive drug surveillance--a pilot study.
The aim of this Extensive Drug Surveillance programme was to develop a system of drug monitoring suitable for detecting adverse drug reactions in hospitalised patients. The monitored field was a general medical ward in the Royal Adelaide Hospital and monitoring was carried out for a period of one month (September 1974). A total of 85 patients (45 males and 40 females) were monitored and in 14 of them adverse reactions were noted. The overall incidence of such reactions was 16.5%. A greater intake of drugs was a significant finding in patients who experienced adverse reactions. Coupled with this was the observation that patients who stayed longer in hospital had a greater number of drugs administered to them. A third finding was the higher incidence of reactions in female patients.
D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors