Antidepressant prescribing patterns and adverse events following introduction of a National Prescribing Indicator to monitor dosulepin usage in Wales.

Aims: Limiting use of the antidepressant dosulepin has been encouraged due to associated risks of toxicity. In April 2011, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group introduced a National Prescribing Indicator (NPI) to monitor dosulepin usage. The aim of this study was to investigate antidepressant prescribing patterns, and selected adverse events in patients prescribed dosulepin following introduction of the NPI.

Improving the spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions: An overview of systematic reviews.

Aim: To conduct an overview of systematic reviews examining interventions to stimulate spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and/or patients/carers.

Methods: Systematic reviews published since 1 January 2000 were identified and the included publications categorized in relation to the 4Es (education, engineering, economics and enforcement).

Results: Almost all studies were aimed at HCPs.

Changes in suspected adverse drug reaction reporting via the yellow card scheme in Wales following the introduction of a National Reporting Indicator.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the impact of a National Reporting Indicator (NRI) on rates of reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions using the Yellow Card scheme following the introduction of the NRI in Wales (UK) in April 2014.

Methods: Yellow Card reporting data for general practitioners and other reporting groups in Wales and England for the financial years 2014-15 (study period 1) and 2015-16 (study period 2) were obtained from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and compared with those for 2013-14 (pre-NRI control period).

Results: The numbers of Yellow Cards submitted by general practitioners in Wales were 271, 665 and 870 in the control period, study period 1 and study period 2, respectively.

The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group: 18 years' experience of a national medicines optimisation committee.

Aims: To review the medicines optimisation activities of the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG), a committee established in 2002 to advise the Welsh Government on "all matters related to prescribing". Although AWMSG conducts other activities (e.g.

Public awareness in Wales of the UK Yellow Card scheme for reporting suspected adverse drug reactions.

We used the HealthWise Wales (HWW) platform to explore public knowledge about the UK Yellow Card scheme (YCS), the spontaneous reporting scheme for suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and whether a short information video could improve awareness. Members of the public in Wales (n = 1606) completed a questionnaire about the YCS, watched the information video and then completed a follow-up questionnaire. Almost half (46.