Perception of the risk of adverse drug reactions:: differences between health professionals and non health professionals

Aims To investigate how risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of several drug classes is perceived by health vs non health professionals. Methods Four hundred health professionals (i.e. 278 general practitioners, 76 pharmacists and 46 pharmacovigilance professionals) and 153 non health professionals were interviewed. Visual analogue scales were used to define a score of perceived risk of ADRs associated with each drug class (ranking from 0 to 10). Results Anticoagulants were ranked as the most dangerous drugs by general practitioners [median score (25th-75th centiles): 7.9 (6.7-9.0)], pharmacists [8.7 (7.8-9.7)] and pharmacovigilance professionals [8.1 (7.2-9.0)]. For non health professionals, the class ranked first was sleeping pills [8.7 (7.2-9.4)] followed by tranquillisers [8.2 (6.4-9.2)] and antidepressants [8.0 (5.9-9.1)]. Aspirin was listed in the last position by non health professionals [3.4 (1.5-5.4)]. Conclusions There are major differences in the perception of risk of ADRs between health professionals and non health professionals.