OBJECTIVES: To adapt the methodology, criteria and instruments for tracing adverse drug events proposed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and to evaluate the occurrence of adverse drug events in a specialized hospital. METHODS: The method selected for the identification of adverse drug events was an adjustment proposed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement based on the retrospective review of medical charts conducted through explicit tracing criteria. The adjustment process for tracing criteria for adverse drug events was carried out by a panel of specialists based on the analysis of aspects related to validation, viability and relevance. This analysis was carried out from a sample of 112 patients. RESULTS: 21 tracing criteria for the detection of adverse drug events were selected. The incidence of adverse drug events in the analyzed hospital was 14.3%. In 25% of the cases there was a need for life-support intervention. CONCLUSION: Tracing criteria for adverse drug events enable monitoring events through time, allowing to evaluate if the strategies implemented in the medication system could show results for a better quality of care.
Adverse events; Adjustment of instruments; Quality of health care; Patient safety
