The Hereford Hospital Prescribing Study. Investigation of methods to identify patients with adverse drug reactions.

Four investigatory procedures are described for the detection of patients with possible adverse drug reactions. These were evaluated using computer data from the Hereford Hospital Prescribing Study. 120 patients receiving Indomethacin were studied from the total data base of 2,852 admissions during 1977. From this study, two of the methods involving the identification of the discontinuation of drug therapies and the prescribing of 'antidotes' seemed to be the most useful. These methods were also applicable to the routine monitoring of prescription sheets by ward pharmacists.