[Physicians´ insight about adverse drug reaction to frequently used medication groups in Bogotá (Colombia)].

INTRODUCTION

Adverse drug reactions are a public health problem; however, still many prescribers do not seem to recognize the risk associated with the use of medications.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the perception of the risk of adverse reactions associated with the groups of drugs most frequently used in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Descriptive study made in 200 physicians with at least 2 years of clinical experience in Bogota, Colombia. The risk of adverse drug reactions associated with the use of medications was assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10 points).

RESULTS

The perception of risk was <5 points for 19 of the 31 (61%) therapeutic groups. The therapeutic groups that were related to increased perception of risk were chemotherapy for cancer (median, 8.5, interquartile range: 1.8), insulin (median, 8, interquartile range: 4.8) and anticoagulants (median, 7.5, interquartile range: 4).

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is a relationship between the perception of risk and the frequency of adverse drug reactions associated with therapeutic groups of higher score, there is also a strong underestimation of the risk of medicines in common use at hospital and ambulatory level such as NSAID, antihypertensive drugs and oral contraceptives.