A study of knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance among medical students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: The aim of pharmacovigilance is to ensure safe and rational use of medicines, once they are released for general use in the society. Targeting the younger doctor for sensitization toward pharmacovigilance is the key to ensure practice of adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting in clinical practice. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of pharmacovigilance among medical students at Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, a tertiary care teaching hospital. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study will be carried out using a pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire will be designed to assess the KAP regarding pharmacovigilance. The medical students (2nd year, pre-final year, and interns) were included in the study. Only the participants who will give their consent will be included in the study. Result will be calculated by proper statistical analysis. Results: The current study was conducted in a Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, which included a total of 228 medical students of which 44% 2nd year, 35% pre-final year students, and 21% interns. Most of them (83.33%) accepted that reporting ADR is necessary, and pharmacovigilance should be taught in detail to health-care professionals. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that knowledge of pharmacovigilance among medical students is improving gradually and pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting needs to be made compulsory, have better, interesting ways to learn and understand it, so that the students can practice it with confidence in their clinical practice.