Intervention to improve the level of documentation of antipsychotic related adverse drug reactions

Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay of treatment for psychotic disorders according to the Standard Treatment Guidelines (2012). However, these drugs are associated with multiple severe adverse drug reactions. In order to limit the effect of adverse drug reactions on patient care, documentation is necessary. Documentation of adverse drug reactions entails recording the reaction experienced, as well as supplementary information. Proper documentation can prevent future occurrences of the same or similar adverse drug reactions. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an educational intervention targeting increasing documentation of the adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs. The objectives of the study were: to determine the pre-intervention extent and frequency of documentation of antipsychotic-related adverse drug reactions in the patient medical record; to implement an intervention aimed at educating the relevant healthcare professionals, focusing on the adverse drug reactions of antipsychotic drugs and how to record or document these reactions; to assess the post-intervention extent and frequency of documentation of antipsychotic-related adverse drug reactions in the patient medical record; and to assess the attitude of healthcare providers towards the documentation of antipsychotic related adverse drug reactions before and after the intervention