Comparison of documentation of patient reported adverse drug reactions on both paper-based medication charts and electronic medication charts at a New Zealand hospital

Known adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can have profound effects on disease states, as well as prescribing practice. Therefore, the correct and complete documentation of each individual patient's ADR history, upon hospital admission, is important in optimising that individual patient's pharmacotherapy. This study investigated the documentation of ADRs at a tertiary New Zealand hospital, on both paper-based medication charts and electronic medication charts to quantify both the number of ADRs patients self-report, as well as the differences between recording of that information in electronic and paper-based charting systems.Following ethical approval, inpatient medication charts on the general medical ward (electronic prescribing), or the general surgical ward (paper-based medication charts) were viewed for documented ADRs-as reported by each patient on admission. Consecutive patient charts (and electronic clinical management system) were viewed until 50 patients from each ward, each with at least one documented ADR, (in any of the information sources) were obtained. Patient demographic information, ADR history and discrepancies between information sources were determined.In both wards 114 patients were reviewed in order to find 50 patients with documented ADRs. In the medical ward (electronic) 44 (90%) patients had discrepancies in ADR information between different information sources and in the surgical ward (paper) this occurred in 49 (98%) patients.A large number of patients self-report ADRs. Full documentation of patient reported ADRs is required to adequately inform future prescribing decisions. Discrepancies between ADR information recorded in different information systems exist, but information sharing between electronic and non-electronic sources could be prioritised in order to allow full and complete information to be collected, stored and utilised; and reduce the current inadequacies.