Abstract
The current study assessed preparedness among nurses about reporting adverse drug reactions in public and private hospitals. Nurses in hospitals are among health providers very close to patients and are involved in the process of administering medications especially to inpatients. A cross sectional study was conducted among nurses in public and private hospitals in Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania to compare their preparedness on reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). A total of 384 nurses were involved in this study, of which 50% were drawn from public hospitals and 50% from private hospitals. Majority of respondents (75.25%) in public and 84.73% in private hospitals said they have not received any training about reporting ADRs. Of the few trained nurses, 85.43% and 96.55%, in public and private hospitals, respectively, said they have been trained in a seminar only once, after they started working as nurses. Respondents in public (19.17%) and private (32.8%) hospitals reported to stock ADRS forms (Yellow cards). Less than 50% of respondents agreed to have access to reference materials such as a text books named “Good Dispensing Practice” and a “List of Registered Medicines”. Further results showed more than two third of all respondents in private (74.25%) and public (73.5%) hospitals reported that lack of training affects the process of reporting ADRs in terms of ability and tendency. In this study we found training, availability of Yellow cards and presence of a focal person are among important contributing factors to preparedness of reporting ADRs among nurses in public and private hospitals.
Highlights
Drugs carry the potential ability to produce both desirable and undesirable effects
A cross sectional study was conducted among nurses in public and private hospitals in Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania to compare their preparedness on reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
In private hospitals (57.4%) of nurses strongly agreed that lack of knowledge affects preparedness of ADRs reporting and (37.4%) strongly agreed that availability of Yellow Cards promotes the preparedness on reporting adverse drug reactions
Summary
Drugs carry the potential ability to produce both desirable and undesirable effects. There is no drug which is absolute safe under all circumstances of use in all patients adverse drug reactions may occur even when the drug is correctly selected or used [1]. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are responses of pharmaceutical products which are unpleasant or potentially harmful and unintended which occur at a dose normally used for prophylaxis or treatment [2]. Attitude and practice (KAP) suggested that the problem of under reporting and provision of quality ADRs data is beyond knowledge, attitude and behaviour rather it is caused by non-preparedness of medical personnel on reporting them. This is because of inadequate training, unavailability of tools such as ADRs forms (Yellow cards) and reference manuals to refer during reporting ADRs [6]. The positive effects of initiatives such as internet, pharmacist/nurse reporting, direct patient reporting as well as improved training of healthcare professionals all these efforts will eventually enhance the quality and quantity of the reports [7]
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