Physicians' attitudes towards voluntary reporting of adverse drug events

At the time a new drug is placed on the market. information on its therapeu tic effect and toxicity is limited. Because of its simplicity and widesprea d use, the voluntary reporting by clinical physicians is the main method fo r detecting rare or unexpected adverse drug events (ADEs). However, the use fulness of this method may be compromised if the reporting rate is low. We present the results of a questionnaire-based case-control study carried out among 692 physicians from Galicia (north-west region of Spain), in which w e assessed their attitudes and opinions towards ADEs. In general, the Galic ian physicians think it is difficult to link a given ADE with a drug (P<0.0 5) and have very heterogeneous opinions on the fact that very severe ADEs a re known before the drug is commercialized. They globally disagree with the proposal that ADE reporting should be remunerated and the fact that ADE re porting can be risky for the physician. Some of the beliefs concerning ADEs are incorrect. It Is crucial to improve the training of the physicians thr ough active educational strategies based on personal contact.