Table 2.

Frequency at which various preventability factors were observed amongst 69 ADRs considered to have contributed to the death of 56 patients

Schumock & Thornton criteria	Number of occurrences
Was the drug involved in the ADR not considered appropriate for the patient’s clinical condition based on published guidelines, clinical studies, abstracts, case reports, case series?	16
Was the dose, route and frequency of administration not appropriate for the patient’s age, weight, or disease state (e.g. renal/hepatic function) based on published literature (e.g. South African Medicines Formulary, MIMS)	5
Was required therapeutic drug monitoring or other laboratory test not performed?	11
Was there a history of allergy or previous reaction to the drug?	0
Was a drug interaction involved in the reaction?	4
Was the serum drug concentration above the therapeutic range documented in adults?	0
Did compliance possibly contribute to the reaction?	2

ADR, adverse drug reaction.