This study discovered that voluntary reporting and computerized surveillance are both effective methods to detect adverse drug events, particularly when combined as a single strategy. The authors emphasize the value of combining quantitative and qualitative data from these strategies since they generate unique learnings and provide a more comprehensive assessment of medication safety.

This study found that events captured from safety reporting systems resulted in similar adverse drug event rates per pediatric patient–days compared to those detected by an electronic surveillance system. However, the majority of the voluntary reports originated from the intensive care unit, whereas the distribution was more balanced using the surveillance system, suggesting the value in combining these strategies to detect adverse drug events.