Members Comment on Drug Safety

The ACR recently conducted a survey of U.S. members about the issue of drug safety, sources of information, and related issues. The survey netted 454 responses, and highlights of the survey results are provided below.

As a result of the survey, the ACR Drug Safety Committee (DSC) plans to:

• Continue communications to the membership about drug safety issues, notably through the publication of Hotline or blast e-mails on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug safety–related announcements;
• Consider increased drug-safety training opportunities for rheumatologists (an FDA-ACR Drug Safety Fellowship is currently being discussed); and
• Pursue continued collaboration with the FDA through a number of mechanisms, including:
  • Sessions at the annual meeting;
  • Journal articles;
  • FDA representatives on the DSC;
  • The FDA contacting ACR when drug safety information is about to be released; and
  • Representatives of ACR attending FDA Advisory Committee meetings.

Survey Highlights

• Importance:
  • 86% said they were concerned to very concerned about drug safety issues.
• Information:
  • 36% said they did not feel well informed about drug safety issues.
  • 38% said they were satisfied to very satisfied with the quality of drug safety information available to them.
• Sources of information:
  • 46% rate the ACR or other professional society communications as their first source for drug safety information.
  • 84% found ACR Hotline useful to very useful.
  • 84% found ACR drug safety e-mails useful to very useful.
  • 47% of members never go to the FDA Web site for drug safety information.
  • 28% of those who go to the FDA Web site find it useful.
  • 48% said they wanted to hear from the FDA about drug safety issues through the ACR.
  • 64% said drug safety information for patients from ACR or FDA would be helpful.
• Open comments and suggestions:
  • The ACR should work with the FDA.
  • Journal reviews on drug safety would be useful.
  • Facilitate doctor–patient communication on drug safety.
  • Work with editor and staff of The Rheumatologist to publish series of drug safety articles.
  • Consider themed issue of Arthritis Care & Research focused on drug safety and/or discussing drug safety, and invite reviews or editorials on this topic for Arthritis Care & Research or Arthritis & Rheumatism.
  • Work with the Education Committee to develop patient-education information and tools to facilitate communication about drug safety between providers and patients and providers and primary care doctors.

If you have suggestions for how the ACR can better communicate with or educate its members about drug safety issues, contact Amy S. Miller at [email protected].