Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Use of Mobile Phones for Monitoring Adverse Drug Reaction in Pharmacy and Drug Stores in Ishaka, Uganda - a Pilot Assessment of Willingness to Report

A. A. Adedeji, J. Babirye, O. Nsooli, D. Kamowa, O. A. Tikare, A. G. Okoruwa, J. O. C. Ezeonwumelu, A. A. Ganiyu, C. P. Adiukwu, J. Namulema, C. Barigye, S. Yusuf, M. Vicente-Crespo

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International · pp. 2245–2260 · Published 29 Sep 2014

10.9734/BJPR/2014/8065

Abstract

Aim: We investigated reporting of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) following use of drugs purchased from open system pharmacy (OSP) and drug stores, and the effectiveness of mobile phones for reporting drug reactions and detection of drug interactions. Study Design: The study was descriptive and inceptional. Place and Duration of Study: Selected Pharmacies and drug stores in Ishaka Municipality, Bushenyi, Uganda, between January and April 2012. Methodology: A total of 190 participants purchasing prescription and non prescription drugs in the drug outlets were enrolled and drug purchases documented. Structured interviews were used to assess any existing system of ADR tracking. Possible interactions were assessed using electronic checkers software on drug combinations prescribed or purchased. Mobile phone calls were used to monitor the reporting potential, use of medication and events or reactions following drug use for ADRs. Results: No formalized pre-study system was found for tracking ADR in the OSP and drug stores studied. Participants purchased 420 different medications with 55.8% without prescription. Antibiotics, analgesics and antimalarials ranked most purchased medications. All participants carried at least a functional mobile phone and demonstrated interest to report ADRs. Mean Effective Mobile Phone Contact Ratio (MEMPCR) for ADR monitoring was 0.91+0.2 and follow-up was 96% (n=183) and 89.5% on days 0 and 4 respectively. Interactions predicted were in 24.8% (31). Significant reporting of at least one of 404 reactions occurred within 72hr compared to 96-120hr (P=0.003). Two participants had reaction leading to discontinued use of Cotrimoxazole. Conclusion: Use of mobile phones and drug interaction checker software may avail early detection of ADR and reporting. Facilitated toll free- call service may be an effective means of extending the scope of ADR tracking in addition to Yellow Card scheme, and augment involvement of pharmacists and consumers in safe use of drugs.

Adverse drug reaction mobile phone reporting pharmacies drug stores drug safety.

References (34)

  1. 1 Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients [DOI]
  2. 2 Antimalarial Drug Toxicity [DOI]
  3. 3 Mobile Phones and Economic Development: Evidence From the Fishing Industry in India [DOI]
  4. 4 Obstacles and solutions for spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in the hospital [DOI]
  5. 5 Pharmacists' role in reporting adverse drug reactions in an international perspective [DOI]
  6. 6 Antibiotic Adverse Reactions and Drug Interactions [DOI]
  7. 7 Factors that Influence Under-Reporting of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions among Community Pharmacists in a Spanish Region [DOI]
  8. 8 Mobile Phone Text Messaging: Tool for Malaria Control in Africa [DOI]
  9. 9 A comparative analysis of drug safety withdrawals in the UK and the US (1971–1992): Implications for current regulatory thinking and policy [DOI]
  10. 10 Child malaria treatment practices among mothers in Kenya [DOI]
  11. 11 Changing home treatment of childhood fevers by training shop keepers in rural Kenya [DOI]
  12. 12 Self-treatment of malaria in a rural area of western Kenya.
  13. 13 Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Related to Reporting Adverse Drug Events [DOI]
  14. 14 Use of Over-the-Counter Medications and Herbal Remedies in Pregnancy [DOI]
  15. 15 Can adverse drug reactions be detected earlier? A comparison of reports by patients and professionals: Fig 1 [DOI]
  16. 16 Attitudes to adverse drug reaction reporting in the Northern Region.
  17. 17 Pharmacoeconomics of adverse drug reactions [DOI]
  18. 18 Barriers to the effective treatment and prevention of malaria in Africa: A systematic review of qualitative studies [DOI]
  19. 19 Adverse drug reactions of the new oral antifungal agents – terbinafine, fluconazole, and itraconazole [DOI]
  20. 20 The effects of pharmacist interventions on patients with polypharmacy.
  21. 21 Pharmacovigilance of antimalarial treatment in Africa: is it possible? [DOI]
  22. 22 Substandard anti-malarial drugs in Burkina Faso [DOI]
  23. 23 Retail supply of malaria‐related drugs in rural Tanzania: risks and opportunities [DOI]
  24. 24 Community pharmacists' attitudes to adverse drug reaction reporting [DOI]
  25. 25 Monitoring the safety of over the counter drugs [DOI]
  26. 26 Pharmacovigilance of antimalarial treatment in Uganda: community perceptions and suggestions for reporting adverse events [DOI]
  27. 27 Community participation in malaria epidemic control in highland areas of southern Oromia, Ethiopia [DOI]
  28. 28 Exposure to anti-malarial drugs and monitoring of adverse drug reactions using toll-free mobile phone calls in private retail sector in Sagamu, Nigeria: implications for pharmacovigilance [DOI]
  29. 29 Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in Cuba: integrating continuous education, training and research in a network approach [DOI]
  30. 30 A pilot study to evaluate a community pharmacy–based monitoring system to identify adverse drug reactions associated with paediatric medicines use [DOI]
  31. 31 Adverse drug reactions: Can consumers provide early warning? [DOI]
  32. 32 Involving the patient in reporting adverse drug reactions.
  33. 33 Views of parents and pharmacists following participation in a paediatric pharmacovigilance study [DOI]
  34. 34 Patient‐Initiated Postmarketing Surveillance: A Validation Study [DOI]

Cited by 4

Risk Perception and Communication in the Developing World

Bruce Hugman · Special Issues in Pharmacovigilance in Resource-Limited Countries · 2025

Use of mobile phones for patient self-reporting adverse drug reactions: A pilot study at a tertiary hospital in Rwanda

Ntokamunda Justin Kadima, Ruth Nyiranteziryayo, Theoneste Umumararungu · Health and Technology · 2020

Showing 2 of 4 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

10

Page views

0

PDF downloads

4

Outbound clicks

4

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.