Iatrogeny

When we are faced with an illness, we tend to turn to health professionals for guidance and support, often with treatments to help us return to a normal state. However, it can happen that some treatments or medical practices have undesirable side effects, sometimes even dangerous for our health. This situation, known as iatrogeny, can have significant consequences for patients and their families. In this article, we will look at the public health issues related to iatrogenesis and the preventive measures that can be put in place to ensure safe and effective health care.

What is iatrogeny?

Iatrogeny is a medical term that designates all the potential or proven harmful consequences for health resulting from medical intervention (errors in diagnosis, prevention or inappropriate prescription, complications of a therapeutic act) or from recourse to care or the use of a health product.

The effects of iatrogeny can vary considerably depending on the nature and severity of the condition, the complexity of the treatment, the health status of the patient, the quality of care, the availability and accessibility of medical resources, the quality of communication practices between health professionals, the quality of clinical data, etc. Some forms of iatrogeny may be immediately apparent, while others may manifest themselves later, even long after the treatment has been completed. Some forms of iatrogeny may be immediately apparent, while others may manifest themselves later, or even long after treatment has ended.

Several factors can induce the phenomenon of iatrogeny: drugs, surgical interventions, diagnostic tests, diagnostic errors, nosocomial infections, etc. There are therefore different types of iatrogeny, drug-related iatrogeny being one of the most common forms. It occurs when the drugs prescribed or administered to a patient have undesirable effects on his or her health. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to drug iatrogeny because of the age-related impairment of their capacity to metabolise and eliminate drugs. The main clinical manifestations of drug iatrogeny in the elderly are neurological, cardiovascular and/or metabolic, whereas in younger patients they are more likely to be digestive and cutaneous.

Is iatrogeny a public health issue?

Iatrogeny is a major public health issue, especially as it is increasing due to the multiplication of treatments and the development of self-medication, which can sometimes have serious consequences on patients' health. Moreover, from a socio-economic point of view, iatrogeny increases health costs, reduces the effectiveness of treatments and erodes patients' confidence in the health system. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year millions of patients suffer avoidable harm from healthcare, with considerable direct and indirect costs to patients, families, healthcare systems and society as a whole.

The importance of prevention

The prevention of iatrogenic drugs is essential to improve the quality of care and reduce health costs. Health professionals should identify patients at risk, analyse the appropriateness of their prescriptions and ensure that they are properly used, administered, taken and tolerated. Patients should also be informed of the risks associated with their treatment and encouraged to report any adverse effects to their doctor.

How to prevent iatrogeny?

Several measures can be put in place to prevent iatrogenia. First of all, it is important to develop a culture of good medicine use among the entire medicine chain and healthcare professionals, through enhanced training, but also among the population. It is also essential to identify patients at risk and to analyse the relevance and safety of their prescriptions. Doctors and pharmacists are encouraged to work closely together to prevent drug-related harm. Finally, it is important to make patients aware of the risks of iatrogenicity and to encourage them to report any adverse reactions. (If you wish to report an adverse reaction click here)

Some tips to limit drug iatrogeny:

To limit the risk of drug iatrogeny, it is recommended that

• Avoid self-medication and only use it on the advice of a health professional (pharmacist, doctor), including for minor illnesses.

• To make patients aware of the risks of iatrogeny and encourage them to actively participate in their own care, to ask questions, to report side effects, to understand the risks and benefits of treatments, etc.

• Encourage reporting of adverse events to health authorities

In conclusion, iatrogeny is a complex and multifactorial public health issue that requires a comprehensive and coordinated response at all levels of the health system. Although it is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to prevent, the consequences on patients' health can be serious. In this context, prevention is essential and everyone has a role to play in ensuring access to safe, effective and quality health care.

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