Involving the patient in reporting adverse drug reactions.

A method is described for increasing the level of reporting of adverse drug reactions. Patients prescribed a black triangle drug (one being monitored by the Committee on Safety of Medicines) were given a leaflet by the dispensing chemists in one town, encouraging them to report any adverse reaction to their doctor. Over two two-month periods, reports of adverse reactions rose from six out of 576 in the control period (10 per 1000) to 11 out of 481 (23 per 1000) in the study period but only one 'yellow card' was submitted to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.