Abstract
Introduction
The use of mobile apps is increasing in medicine. In pharmacovigilance, mobile apps may help to increase adverse drug reaction reporting and improve the communication of safety issues. The Toulouse University Pharmacovigilance Center has developed VigiBIP®, a free smartphone app available on Android and Apple stores, for reporting adverse drug reactions and requesting drug safety information.
Objective
The present study was performed to compare the main characteristics of spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports received through VigiBIP® with classical methods of reporting (phone, e-mail, fax, letter, website) during 25 months (2015–17).
Methods
Using the Chi squared test, we compared the type of reporter, adverse drug reaction seriousness, drugs involved and reported ADRs using VigiBIP® and classical methods of reporting
Results
A total of 4102 reports were received by the Toulouse University Pharmacovigilance Center, including 4.7% through VigiBip®. Patients’ reports were significantly more frequent with VigiBip® (6.7%) than with classical methods (3.4%) [p = 0.01]. Reported adverse drug reactions and involved drugs differed according to the method of reporting used.
Conclusion
Our study shows that a mobile app is an additional tool used in pharmacovigilance. Types of reporters and adverse drug reactions in VigiBIP were different to those seen in classical methods of reporting.
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François Montastruc, Haleh Bagheri, Isabelle Lacroix, Christine Damase-Michel, Leila Chebane, Vanessa Rousseau, Emilie Jouanjus, Maryse Lapeyre-Mestre, Geneviève Durrieu and Jean-Louis Montastruc have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this study. The content of this article only involved its authors and the opinions and conclusions are not necessarily those of Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament. The authors of this article are solely responsible for the conclusions.
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Montastruc, F., Bagheri, H., Lacroix, I. et al. Adverse Drug Reaction Reports Received Through the Mobile App, VigiBIP®: A Comparison with Classical Methods of Reporting. Drug Saf 41, 511–514 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-017-0630-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-017-0630-2