Improving self reporting of ADRs using socially-coupled Pharmacoinformatics in Al Ahsaa Area

Healthcare organizations are focusing on the identification and management of Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) because of their linkages with medical problems, patient outcomes and drug discovery. The acquisition and processing of ADR-related information is challenged by the inefficiency of spontaneous reporting systems, the difficulty of promoting self-reporting by patients and the use of social media generated data. By focusing on ADR management information in Al Ahsaa area (Saudi Arabia), our study examined the way such information is being acquired, processed, presented and shared in some public hospitals of the city. The study revealed the limited application of Pharmacoinformatics for detecting, signaling and systemwide integration of ADR information. The paper proposes an agent-based information architecture to improve self-reporting of ADR information by patients and other stakeholders by emphasizing the use of user-generated ADR-related content on “guided” forums or social networks.