Determination of good pharmacovigilance reporting practices in Quebec hospital pharmacies using a modified Delphi method

Purpose Many published guidelines are available for health care providers describing the best way to manage patient's adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, there is a lack of guidance on the best way to promote and manage ADR reporting within hospitals. The goal of this study was to develop good pharmacovigilance reporting practices (GPRPs). Methods This descriptive study used a modified Delphi method. The research team developed 41 statements, according to a modified Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely (SMART) method and grouped them in six categories: organization (n = 12 statements), pharmacovigilance committee (n = 4), database (n = 5), training (n = 5), tools (n = 3), and quality (n = 12). The Delphi consultation (two online rounds, conducted in 2018) involved directors of pharmacy in Quebec hospitals. Results Of 30 directors of pharmacy invited to participate in the first round, 27 (90%) did so. Following this round, the wording of five statements was modified according to pre‐established rules. Twenty‐five (93%) of the original 27 participants responded during the second round. Of the initial 41 statements, 37 were selected (average score ≥ 7); the other four were eliminated. Of the 37 statements selected, 22 had a “must do” formulation, 12 had a “should do” formulation, and three had a “may do” formulation. Conclusion Using a modified Delphi method, we established a set of GPRPs for hospital pharmacy based on 37 statements. To our knowledge, these are the first GPRPs published in the hospital pharmacy literature.