Reactions Weekly | 2021
Does training specialist oncology nurses improve ADR reporting?
Abstract
Pharmacovigilance education for specialist oncologist nurses (SONs) increases the quantity and quality of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, according to study results reported in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, and also resulted in a long-term increase in pharmacovigilance competence . The study involved postgraduate schools in the Netherlands which qualified nurses to prescribe a limited set of frequently prescribed drugs. Some SONs (n=65) received an expanded prescribing qualification course which included a pharmacovigilance lecture, an ADR-reporting assignment, and group discussion of their self-reported ADRs. Results were compared to SONs who did not receive the expanded course (n=23). During the study period, 82 ADR reports were submitted to the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Center Lareb, concerning 220 different ADRs. All reports were submitted by the intervention-group SONs. Although reporting quality could therefore not be compared with control group reporting, 69 reports (84%) had ClinDoc score >75%, indicating a well-documented report. The most frequently involved drugs comprised monoclonal antibodies (17%), pyrimidine analogues (17%) and platinum compounds (14%). Their associated reactions included skin reactions (19%), gastrointestinal disorders (15%) and nervous system disorders (14%). There were 35 reports (43%) which met the criteria for seriousness; four fatal reactions occurred. Although most reported reactions were mentioned in the Summary of the Product Characteristics for the relevant drugs, the authors note that 30% of the reported reactions were unexpected . Assessment of intentions and attitudes revealed that intervention-group SONs had higher scores for the intention to report unknown and serious ADRs than control-group SONs, and had a more positive attitude to those outcomes. The intervention group also had higher knowledge scores, both directly after course completion and two years later, and were more aware of what to do when they suspect an ADR. We would recommend that other healthcare curricula . . . incorporate this simple real-life, problemand contextbased pharmacovigilance educational intervention , note the authors.