Implement Sci
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of an interactive program for preventing adverse drug events in primary care: study protocol of the InPAct cluster randomised stepped wedge trial.
Adverse drug events could often be prevented. One of their main causes is that patients rarely know how to detect them. Another cause is inadequate communication between patients and physicians. If patients were to be effectively trained in detecting and reporting adverse drug events, this should help to prevent their occurrence and subsequent complications. Our purpose is to present the protocol of the InPAct trial, which aims to evaluate an interactive program that encourages patients to report adverse drug events in primary care. ⋯ Our choice of a stepped wedge design is particularly appropriate for evaluating the implementation of a patient safety program within the constraints of general practice. We describe the InPAct intervention, which is an original program that is intended to improve communication between patients and physicians. Indeed, none of the previously published intervention studies has combined a patient education program and a patient reporting system for adverse drug events with the aim of improving patient safety in primary care.