<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction.</bold> The use of medicines involves trade-offs between their therapeutic benefits and inherent risks. Several studies show that numerous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) could be avoided by increasing patients’ awareness of medicine’s risks. Even though drug labels enclose relevant information about risks and benefits, this information often requires patient education and overall health literacy to improve medication adherence, thereby preventing ADR frequency.
<bold>Aim.</bold> To describe patient awareness of ADR risks and the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System.
<bold>Methods.</bold> A questionnaire comprising 27 questions was conducted at a health centre in Coimbra, Portugal. This study included ninety-one patients. Risk perception was scored as positive (≥2.5 points) or negative (&lt;2.5 points). Results were analysed by SPSS v 27.0.
<bold>Results.</bold> This work highlights poor patient perceptions of risk with a rate of negative responses of 85,7%. Although some responders were aware of the possibility of reporting ADRs, only some participants were familiar with the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System. Additionally, only five patients – out of the vast majority of those who had previously encountered ADRs – reported the event to INFARMED.
<bold>Conclusion.</bold> Patient low literacy regarding ADRs and the national reporting systems need to be urgently improved. Patient-centred communication strategies for recognising regulatory requirements and standards of product safety are important measures to achieve effective awareness through routine reporting within the Pharmacovigilance systems.
</abstract>

Introduction. The use of medicines involves trade-offs between their therapeutic benefits and inherent risks. Several studies show that numerous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) could be avoided by increasing patients’ awareness of medicine’s risks. Even though drug labels enclose relevant information about risks and benefits, this information often requires patient education and overall health literacy to improve medication adherence, thereby preventing ADR frequency.
Aim. To describe patient awareness of ADR risks and the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System.
Methods. A questionnaire comprising 27 questions was conducted at a health centre in Coimbra, Portugal. This study included ninety-one patients. Risk perception was scored as positive (≥2.5 points) or negative (<2.5 points). Results were analysed by SPSS v 27.0.
Results. This work highlights poor patient perceptions of risk with a rate of negative responses of 85,7%. Although some responders were aware of the possibility of reporting ADRs, only some participants were familiar with the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System. Additionally, only five patients – out of the vast majority of those who had previously encountered ADRs – reported the event to INFARMED.
Conclusion. Patient low literacy regarding ADRs and the national reporting systems need to be urgently improved. Patient-centred communication strategies for recognising regulatory requirements and standards of product safety are important measures to achieve effective awareness through routine reporting within the Pharmacovigilance systems.

Assessment of risk perception of patients concerning adverse drug reactions

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy

Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Assessment of risk perception of patients concerning adverse drug reactions"}

Introduction. The use of medicines involves trade-offs between their therapeutic benefits and inherent risks. Several studies show that numerous adverse drug...

Assessment of risk perception of patients concerning adverse drug reactions

Published Online: Jun 30, 2023

Page range: 103 - 107

Received: Mar 05, 2023

Accepted: Mar 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2023-0018

Keywords
adverse drug reactions, risk perception, pharmacovigilance system, ADR reporting

© 2023 João José Joaquim et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Assessment of risk perception of patients concerning adverse drug reactions

Published Online: Jun 30, 2023

Page range: 103 - 107

Received: Mar 05, 2023

Accepted: Mar 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2023-0018

Keywordsadverse drug reactions, risk perception, pharmacovigilance system, ADR reporting

© 2023 João José Joaquim et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
adverse drug reactions, risk perception, pharmacovigilance system, ADR reporting