A survey of community pharmacists perspectives on monitoring antidepressant adverse events.

This study assessed pharmacists' experiences and perspectives on monitoring antidepressant adverse events. A stratified sample of 1000 community pharmacists in Dutch-speaking Belgium was invited to complete an online survey on general views on adverse event monitoring and antidepressant adverse event monitoring practice at first and second dispensing and after 1 year. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. The response rate was 24.4% (244/1000). Overall, pharmacists generally reported positive attitudes towards monitoring antidepressant adverse events, although less positive than for other medicines. Although pharmacists felt well-positioned and trained to monitor adverse events, their approach remains largely passive. Most pharmacist informed patients at first dispensing, but only 47% proactively inquired at second dispensing and 9% at dispensing after 1 year. Only 19% felt comfortable discussing sexual dysfunction. In conclusion, despite community pharmacists' positive perspectives, proactive monitoring declined over time highlighting the need for patient, healthcare provider and policy level interventions.