Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting among final year medical students - A questionnaire-based study in a tertiary care hospital in Goa

Abstract

Background: Pharmacovigilance has a significant role in the rational use of medicines by providing information about adverse drug reactions (ADRs). ADRs can lead to significant mortality and morbidity in the health-care industry. Underreporting of such cases is mainly caused due to inadequate knowledge of pharmacovigilance and ADRs. The effectiveness of pharmacovigilance and ADR monitoring depends on the active participation of all the components of the health-care system; students being the main component. Aims and Objective: Purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting among final year medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Goa. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, observational, and questionnaire-based study was carried out using a predesigned questionnaire. The permission of the Institutional Ethics Committee was taken. The study included distribution of 130 questionnaires to the final year medical students of Goa Medical College. The responses were assessed and analyzed using MS Excel and data were presented as percentages. Results: A total of 95 responses from students were obtained out of 130 questionnaires, thus a response rate of 73%. On an average 54.5% of student answered the questions related to knowledge correctly. 67.3% of students had a positive attitude toward pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. 46.3% felt that not knowing how the reporting works are the main cause of under-reporting. 45.3% students knew what steps were to be taken once an ADR is detected. Only 14.7% of students had seen the ADR reporting form. 38.9% of students had identified ADRs in patients during their clinical postings, and only 6.3% had reported any ADRs. Conclusion: The study revealed that there was an inadequate level of knowledge and awareness toward pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. Efforts are needed to develop a curriculum that includes all aspects of pharmacovigilance in the undergraduate period.