title: Identification and Characterization of Adverse Drug Events in Primary Care.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize adverse drug events (ADEs) in a primary care setting using an electronic health record (EHR). This prospective, observational study enrolled patients with any medication change who were seen at an outpatient internal medicine clinic. Patients were evaluated for ADEs by EHR review and telephone interview. ADEs were independently assessed for causality, severity, preventability, and ameliorability by a physician and a pharmacist using a grading instrument. There were 1368 unique medication changes for 701 individuals who completed the study (1.95 changes per person). Of the 226 suspected ADEs, 68 (58%) were deemed to be "definite" or "probable" following causality assessment; 21% were preventable and 40% ameliorable. Only 2 ADEs were serious or life-threatening. Compared with prior reports, ADEs in primary care have decreased in frequency and severity, yet the occurrence of preventable and ameliorable ADEs has increased.
authors: 1 University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
authors: Katy E
authors: KE
authors: Trinkley
authors: 2 The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors: Harrison G
authors: HG
authors: Weed
authors: 3 The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, OH.
authors: Stuart J
authors: SJ
authors: Beatty
authors: 4 The Ohio State University Center for Biostatistics, Columbus, OH.
authors: Kyle
authors: K
authors: Porter
authors: 2 The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.|5 Nationwide Children's Hospital and Research Institute, Columbus, OH.
authors: Milap C
authors: MC
authors: Nahata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adverse drug events; medication safety; primary care