A recent study by the University of South Australia has revealed a concerning trend in medication safety: while 75% of Australians have experienced adverse reactions to medications, fewer than half report these incidents to healthcare authorities.
This underreporting potentially compromises patient safety and hinders the ability of regulatory bodies to identify and address medication-related issues effectively.
The study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, surveyed 544 adults taking one or more medicines. It found that only 36% of those who experienced an adverse drug reaction (ADR) reported it to health authorities or medical professionals. This low reporting rate is particularly alarming given that medication-related harm accounts for up to 3% of all hospital admissions in Australia, resulting in an estimated 250,000 admissions and costing the healthcare system $1.4 billion annually.
Lead researcher and UniSA Ph.D. candidate Mohammed Dedefo highlighted a key finding: “The main reason why most people don’t report adverse drug reactions is because they do not think it is serious enough. However, many don’t know how to report them either.”
The study also revealed a significant lack of awareness about digital reporting tools. Most respondents were unaware they could use digital platforms to report ADRs, which could help regulatory authorities more closely assess specific medications and detect negative patterns.
In response to these findings, UniSA researchers are developing new, consumer-focused digital tools to facilitate easier reporting of ADRs. “Integrating digital reporting options into widely used healthcare apps and patient portals would increase the reporting rates,” the researchers suggest.
Co-author Associate Professor Lisa Kalisch Ellett emphasised the potential impact of improved reporting: “This data would help the TGA to conduct more thorough assessments and issue warnings to health professionals and consumers if warranted. Medication information could be updated, or the medication withdrawn in the most serious cases.”
The current reporting system, developed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), is not well-known to most consumers and is primarily used by pharmaceutical companies. This lack of public engagement represents a missed opportunity for comprehensive medication safety monitoring.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
