Frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions due to self-medication: a cross-sectional multicentre survey in emergency departments.

Background: Little is known about the relation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to self-use of medications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of ADRs related to self-medication (ADR-SM) among emergency department (ED) patients and to describe their main characteristics.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted over a period of 8 weeks (1 March to 20 April 2010), in the ED of 11 French academic hospitals.

A computerized handheld decision-support system to improve pulmonary embolism diagnosis: a randomized trial.

Background: Testing for pulmonary embolism often differs from that recommended by evidence-based guidelines.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a handheld clinical decision-support system to improve the diagnostic work-up of suspected pulmonary embolism among patients in the emergency department.

Design: Cluster randomized trial.