Review of Canadian pharmacist involvement in adverse drug reaction reporting.

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) recognition, evaluation and reporting are important aspects of modern pharmacy practice. Pharmacists have the knowledge and responsibility to contribute to ADR reporting programs. A total of eight studies have reported the incidence of ADRs in Canadian hospitals. On average one in every six patients (17 percent) develop an adverse drug reaction. This may prolong hospital stay, increasing the cost of hospitalization by millions of dollars annually. Although ADR programs can be time consuming, the potential of reducing the financial burden of ADRs would be a positive outcome. A great opportunity exists for pharmacists to contribute in this area of patient care.