Experiences relating to adverse drug reactions in the community: a cross-sectional survey among patients and the general public in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the frequency and characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), experiences of receiving and desire for information about medicines, and attitudes toward ADR knowledge and reporting among the community-dwelling Thai population.

Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered survey conducted during October 2013 to December 2014 by convenience sampling. The study was conducted in three settings in the second-largest city, North-eastern Thailand: primary care units, community pharmacies and public areas.

Results: Of 2400 respondents, 414 (17.3%) reported experiencing an ADR; two-thirds of which involved mild symptoms (66.7%) and 55.6% occurred within the last year. Self-reported ADR knowledge was low (4.1 ± 2.5 on a scale of 0 to 10). Pharmacists and physicians were the most common sources of information about medicines, but only 28.5% had received information about ADRs. Over 40% wanted information about ADRs and drug interactions, with healthcare professionals and information leaflets being desirable sources. The majority of individuals had positive views towards both receiving information and reporting their ADR experiences.

Conclusions: To enable the Thai public to report their experiences of ADRs more effectively, they require more medicines information. Information leaflets should be more widely available, while healthcare professionals should provide more detailed information of ADRs.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse drug reactions
• Attitude
• Community
• Public’s experience
• Medicine information

Acknowledgement

Special thanks are expressed to all individuals who completed the questionnaires and to all staff who provided help in data collection at primary care units and community pharmacies.

Declaration of Interest

This study received financial support from the Research Fund for Supporting Lecturer to Admit High Potential Student to Study and Research on His Expert Program Year 2012, Khon Kaen University (Number 551H101). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.