Informativity of Adverse Drug Reactions Data in Medical Publications

Abstract

The publications concerning adverse drug reactions reflect the experience of independent investigators in the field of medicine. In a large number of cases, certain data which would enable the reader to make a valid assessment of the reported cases are missing. In order to review and to try to improve this situation a meeting, sponsored by CIBA-GEIGY, was held at Morges. Participants were practicing physicians, editors of medical journals, and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, health authorities, and the press. A series of guidelines were proposed. These introduce the notion of d category of preliminary reports, the provisional and rudimentary character of which should be immediately recognized. A second category concerns single cases and a third category multiple cases.