title: Adverse drug reaction reporting by general medical practitioners and retail pharmacists in Harare--a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pilot study was undertaken to investigate whether doctors and pharmacists in the private sector are willing to undertake Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting, to analyse their perceptions with regard to ADR reporting and to determine whether the concept of sentinel reporters could be of value in Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open, prospective study where a selected group of private general medical practitioners and community pharmacists were asked to report any suspected ADRs over a six month period and to complete a structured self administered questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private medical and pharmacy practices in Harare.
  
  
  METHODS
  General medical practitioners and community pharmacists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of ADR reports received at Medicines Control Authority (MCA) and questionnaire responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19 reports were received from participants (eight pharmacists and five doctors) accounting for 79.2% of ADR reports to the MCA, during the study period. Seventeen (89.5%) of the reports generated from the study came from doctors. The 19 reports involved 15 different drugs, three (20%) of which had been registered in the last three years. Twelve questionnaires were completed. Serious and unexpected reactions were more likely to be reported. Most respondents knew what was expected and were willing to report, although five (41.7%) felt they were too busy. Seventy five percent of the doctors had not known that a reporting scheme existed in Zimbabwe and none of the participants had ever sent in a report prior to the study. Medical journals and the drug manufacturers were the most important sources of information about ADRs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simply having interested pharmacists and doctors on the look out for ADRs and increased reporting of ADRs to the MCA. There are willing health care personnel but there is a need for larger studies to see if sentinel reporting of ADRs is applicable on a country wide basis.
authors: University of Zimbabwe, Drug and Toxicology Information Service, Zimbabwe. dball@healthnet.zw
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Ball
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Tisócki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017149:Private Sector; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D015030:Zimbabwe