Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Adverse Drug Reactions and its Reporting Among Nursing Students

Abstract

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) is defined as ‘a response to a medicine which is noxious and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man’. ADR reporting does not yet appear to be regarded by healthcare practitioners as an integral element of standard professional practice. This is mainly because there isn't a robust and active ADR monitoring system or a culture of reporting among medical personnel. If given sufficient knowledge and skills during their undergraduate training careers, medical students could play a significant role and shift the paradigm in the successful implementation of a Pharmacovigilance program. At the moment, they don't have any significant roles due to insufficient training they received regarding ADR reporting. Thus it can be reasoned that effective educational intervention regarding ADR reporting improves Spontaneous Reporting. This study improves the Knowledge Attitude and Practice on ADRs among nursing students as they are the next generation of healthcare workers who will be the first point of contact in case a patient develops an adverse drug reaction in hospital settings. The goal of the study is to assess and improve the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Adverse Drug Reactions and its reporting among nursing students. The study also aimed to identify the barriers associated with reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions among the study subjects. An educational interventional study was carried out among 150 samples in selected nursing colleges of Bengaluru. The data was collected by using self designed content validated questionnaire and responses were recorded. All data obtained was processed and analyzed by using Microsoft excel. It was found that most of the student’s knowledge towards Adverse Drug Reactions and its reporting were found to be improved after suitable intervention. Lack of training, less exposure, absence of professional confidence was identified as barriers associated with reporting of ADR. With the right coaching and guidance provided by means of educational programs, this study was able to further enhance nursing student’s knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Adverse Drug Reactions and its reporting.