Introduction of pharmacovigilance in a new university hospital in Morocco: how and why

In an effort to improve patient safety, Hassan II hospital in Fez introduced a pharmacovigilance system for notification of adverse drug reactions as a priority objective. The implementation of pharmacovigilance activities actually began in June 2007 but it was in 2009 after the inauguration of the new complex that the system became properly operational. This report outlines the activities carried out to develop and implement this system, including informing and training the health professionals, and the results obtained after its introduction. From 2007 to 2009, fewer than 100 cases of adverse drug reactions were reported. Up to June 2011, however, 520 reports of adverse drug reactions were recorded. The classes of drugs most implicated in adverse events were: cancer drugs [26%], anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics [each 15%], analgesics [12%], iodinated contrast agents [6%], and anticoagulants and corticosteroids [5%]. The main adverse events were dermatological and 27% of reports came from the internal medicine department, followed by hepatogastroenterology [25%]. Of the 520 cases reported, 46% were severe

[Self treatment in diabetes mellitus in Kashan]

Self treatment in diabetes mellitus might have serious consequences. This study examined self treatment behaviors in patients with diabetes mellitus, in Kashan city. In this cross sectional study, patients aged over 18 years, with at least 6 months history of diabetes were asked to participate. A 25 item questionnaire with the 4 likert scale was used for recording data. The content validity of the questionnaire was approved and the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.85. The Chi square, T student and multiple regressions were used for data analysis. A total of 400 patients participated in the study. Mean age of participants was 54.9 +/- 12.9 years; 68.2% percent were female; 4.2% had high self treatment score, while 65.8% had medium and 30% had low self treatment scores. Self treatment had no significant relationship with age, duration of disease, the place of living, kind of treatment, insurance, kind of diabetes or the inpatient outpatient status. Female gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and education had significant relationship with self treatment. There was a medium tendency for self treatment in patients. It seems that education focusing on treatment modalities might improve the effectiveness of self treatment in diabetes