Patients' perceptions of adverse drug events and their management in heart failure. Towards a better understanding of the perspective of the patient

PhD ceremony: Ms. R.H.E. De Smedt, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Patients' perceptions of adverse drug events and their management in heart failure. Towards a better understanding of the perspective of the patient

Promotor(s): prof. F.M. Haaijer- Ruskamp, prof. T. Jaarsma, prof. K. van der Meer

Faculty: Medical sciences

The aims of this thesis are to describe the proportion of adverse drug events experienced by heart failure patients, to explore their coping strategies, to assess the risk factors for experiencing adverse drug events and to describe the current management of health care providers.

The results show that adverse drug events are often experienced as chronic and with negative consequences for the patients’ daily life. Only one third of patients actively seeks information about the adverse drug event or discusses the problem with a health care provider.