Knowledge Of Pharmacovigilance Research Articles

Exploration of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pharmacovigilance Among HealthCare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: To ensure the safe use of pharmaceuticals and the detection of adverse drug reactions, it is essential to have an understanding of pharmacovigilance. Although India is running the Pharmacovigilance Program of India, still the spontaneous reporting rate is very low. There is a requirement to be aware healthcare professionals about the importance of pharmacovigilance. This study is conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance among healthcare professionals in the Northern region of Uttar Pradesh. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conceptualized by a Google forms-based questionnaire with 16 questions (08 of knowledge, 05 of attitude, and 03 of practice) a suitable means of assessing the essential knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance. The questionnaire was distributed among the healthcare professionals from March 2024 to April 2024. Result: 390 pretested questionnaires were circulated among healthcare professionals, and 332 of them were answered by the respondents i.e., the response rate was 85.12 %. Among all the respondents 63.25 % were males and 36.74 % were females. It was observed in this study that healthcare professionals have limited theoretical knowledge about pharmacovigilance. Despite a positive attitude toward the requirement of reporting adverse drug reactions, healthcare professionals showed less reporting practice. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals lack adequate knowledge and skill in reporting adverse drug reactions but have a positive attitude toward pharmacovigilance programs. Incorporation of adverse drug reaction reporting concepts in education curriculum, training, and voluntary participation of healthcare professionals in adverse drug reaction reporting is very crucial in achieving safety goals and safeguarding public health.

Adverse Drug Events in Ambulatory Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are understudied in the ambulatory care setting. We aim to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of ADEs in outpatient care using electronic health records (EHRs). This cross-sectional study included EHR data for patients who had an outpatient encounter at an academic medical center from 1 October 2018 through 31 December 2019. We developed a stratified sampling strategy based on a comprehensive set of 994 ADE-related International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) codes to identify clinical encounters and notes likely to contain ADEs. Within each ICD-10 likelihood group, clinical notes were randomly sampled and annotated for present or possible ADE-drug relationships and severity. The overall estimated population prevalence of ADEs presenting in the outpatient setting was calculated. The generalizability of the findings was assessed by comparing ICD-10 code frequencies against a large commercial database. The study included 3126 notes (unique patient encounters) from 2882 unique patients. Of these, 1383 patient encounters (44.2%) had a present or possible ADE documented (6308 mentions). Of the 6038 ADEs mentioned, 14.1% were hypersensitivity reactions, 1.1% were life-threatening, 22.4% were serious, and 60.4% were significant. Main causal agents included anti-infectives (19.3%), central nervous system agents (12.8%), and cardiovascular agents (11.5%). The overall prevalence of present ADEs mentioned in the clinical notes was estimated to be 1.97 per 100 patient encounters (or 2.52 per 100 patient encounters when possible ADEs are included). This study identified the overall population prevalence per encounter of ADEs in the outpatient population by leveraging ICD-10 codes and investigating ADEs documented in clinical notes. Understanding the ADE characteristics in a large corpus of outpatient documentation advances pharmacovigilance knowledge, enhancing the detection, monitoring, and prevention of ADEs in ambulatory care.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance Among Libyan Pharmacists in Benghazi

Pharmacovigilance is meant to ensure patients’ safety from adverse drug reaction (ADR). This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting among pharmacists in Benghazi- Libya. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study involving knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance and it targeted 93 pharmacists at Benghazi medical center. The study showed that pharmacists’ knowledge was 63%, and their attitude was positive. However, their practice was clearly poor. The present study illustrated that there is a need for immediate improvement of ADR monitoring and the importance of CME on pharmacovigilance programs.

Effectiveness of an intervention to improve pharmacovigilance among selected government hospitals in a district of Sri Lanka

Introduction: Issues related to doctors' pharmacovigilance exist due to their lack of knowledge and the challenges of a rapidly changing society. In addition, issues exist with the subject's existing systems. Proper intervention with a comprehensive system of pharmacovigilance can resolve these problems.Objective: This research is intended to assess the knowledge, perception, and practices of pharmacovigilance among medical officers in a district of Sri Lanka with surveillance systems through interventions.Methodology: A pre-and post-intervention design research study was conducted among 237 doctors in the curative sector in the Hambanthota district. All the doctors in these hospitals were considered the study population, and no sampling method was employed. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data using active and passive surveillance data systems and workshops.Results: The results indicated that most of the doctors were from the 31-40 age category (55.3%), females (53.59%), preliminary and grade 2 medical officers (67.1%, 37.6%) who are working in the base hospitals (64.1%) of the area with a basic medical degree (90.8%). A large proportion of them (67.5%) had training in this area as undergraduates (25%). The overall knowledge of pharmacovigilance was poor (69.7%). The overall perception was positive (53.2%). Overall, practices were poor. Knowledge and perception have improved with the intervention.Conclusion and recommendations: This research revealed poor general knowledge, practices, and a positive perception regarding pharmacovigilance, which improved through an intervention. Substantial consideration should be paid to including those topics in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. Continuous professional development and in-service training programmes should be arranged for doctors with a comprehensive system of surveillance.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance amongst undergraduate students at a tertiary care teaching hospital: a questionnaire-based study

Background: Pharmacovigilance ensures patient safety and rational medication use. Spontaneous reporting by healthcare professionals is crucial, but underreporting is a major limitation. Education and training are vital to improve Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting. Inculcating pharmacovigilance into undergraduate programs empowers medical students to report ADRs. Methods: This prospective questionnaire-based study focused on assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding pharmacovigilance. A total of 223 medical undergraduate students of which 156 were students in 2nd year and 67 in 3rd final years who gave their consent were included in this study. Participants completed a pre-questionnaire before undergoing a training session on pharmacovigilance related to KAP. Following the training session, a post-questionnaire was given. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were compared and analysed using an appropriate statistical test. Results: The study showed that knowledge and attitude scores among second and third-year medical students improved after the training program. Following training, the mean knowledge score for second-year students significantly increased from 5.56 to 8.6, while their mean attitude score increased from 5.9 to 7.24. Similarly, for third-final-year students, the mean knowledge score improved from 6.62 to 9.01, and the mean attitude score increased from 6.69 to 7.52. The results clearly showed that the training program had a positive impact on the knowledge and attitude of both student groups. The mean practice scores for second-year and third-final-year students were 0.76 and 1.34, respectively. Conclusions: The study showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitude after the educational intervention, indicating a positive impact of the training program.

A Review- Current Trends in Pharmacovigillance

Pharmacovigilance supports safe and appropriate use of drugs. Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is an essential component of pharmacovigilance. However, there is significant under reporting of ADRs. Adverse drug reactions have become a major problem in developing countries. Knowledge of pharmacovigilance could form the basis for interventions aimed at improving reporting rates and decreasing ADRs. Current scenario of Pharmacovigilance and future prospects are mentioned.

Awareness and Knowledge of Adverse Drug Reactions and Pharmacovigilance Among Medical and Nursing Students and Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Pharmacovigilance is defined as the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or other drug-related problems. Underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a global issue, and adequate knowledge among healthcare professionals is essential. Engaging young doctors and nursing professionals in pharmacovigilance is crucial for promoting ADR reporting. Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of ADRs and pharmacovigilance among medical and nursing students and staff in a tertiary care hospital in Vijayapura, India. Methods A cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study was carried out using a validated questionnaire that included a total of 19 questions related to knowledge and awareness aspects. This was distributed electronically using Google Forms. By using the convenience sampling method, a sample size of 96 participants was calculated for each group (medical and nursing), and this was rounded to 100 participants per group to account for potential dropouts and to ensure the strength of this study. All the questions were peer-reviewed by expert faculties from the Department of Pharmacology. Results The data analysis showed that medical students and staff had superior knowledge of ADRs and pharmacovigilance. Nursing students and staff exhibited greater awareness of the nearest pharmacovigilance center and ADR monitoring centers in India. Nursing students and staff were more active in ADR and pharmacovigilance awareness programs. Conclusions This study clearly shows the importance of flexible attitudes and robust education in pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting among healthcare professionals. Executing simulation-based training can strengthen the skills and confidence of both medical and nursing professionals in ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance.

Evaluating Medical Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Pharmacovigilance: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is an indispensable tool for ensuring patient safety, while its practice raises numerous questions in developing countries, including Bangladesh. This paper aims at determining medical students’ Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of pharmacovigilance to inform ADR reporting. Objective: To evaluate the KAP of pharmacovigilance with second-year students, final-year students, and interns enrolled in a community-oriented medical college in Bangladesh. Methods: A quantitative study design using the cross-sectional survey approach was used together with a self-administered, well-validated structured questionnaire. Second-year, final-year, and intern groups were selected with one hundred participants from each group. Descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square analysis were used in data analysis. Results: A total of 49 percent of the participants were able to correctly define pharmacovigilance; final-year students had the highest knowledge score of 72 percent. A total of 80–85% of the participants endorsed the need to report ADRs, and 75–84% believed that reporting ADRs is a professional responsibility. However, ADR reporting practice varied significantly: In the final-year students, 90% reported having filled out an ADR form, while the corresponding numbers for second-year students and interns were 12% and 34%, respectively. While 70-90% of the participants claimed to have ever been trained on how to report an ADR, only 20-28% of the participants reported to have ever experienced an ADR. Conclusion: Thus, though attitudes toward pharmacovigilance were mostly positive, major knowledge and practical implementation deficits were found, mainly concerning interns. The study underscores the need for enhanced systematic, comprehensive, and clinically focused instruction in pharmacovigilance learning in medical schools. This paper recommends that foresulfide should strengthen the existing knowledge prerequisite, integrate compulsory continuous education programs, advance practical practice, and smoothen the procedure of reporting ADRs to amplify the practices in pharmacovigilance among future healthcare human resources of Bangladesh.

Short-Term Training, a Useful Approach for Sustainable Pharmacovigilance Knowledge Development in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Continuous professional development among stakeholders involved in drug safety monitoring and surveillance is imperative in strengthening pharmacovigilance (PV) systems. The "Pharmacovigilance infrastructure and post-marketing surveillance system capacity building for regional medicine regulatory harmonization in East Africa" (PROFORMA) project aims to enhance the national PV infrastructure, post-marketing surveillance systems and clinical trial regulatory capabilities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. To achieve this, training, including short-term training (STT) activities, at various levels is required. This article aims to describe the experiences of the authors during the development and implementation of STT in an attempt to improve the PV training landscape of these countries. To identify gaps, a baseline assessment of PV teaching and practices at the national medicines regulatory authorities (NMRAs) and medical universities was conducted. Five successive training sessions, tailored to each country's specific needs and regulatory environments, were conducted; three focusing on fundamental concepts in PV and two dedicated to training-of-trainers courses. The training targeted staff from PV units of the NMRAs and medical universities. Enabling participation from all four countries in the same training fostered cross-country learning and collaboration. The contribution of STT to university education and the operational methodologies within NMRAs are explored, showcasing the impact on knowledge transfer and skill development in each country. In conclusion, by investing strategically in STT activities and fostering partnerships with academic institutions and NMRAs, we demonstrated a sustainable approach to PV capacity strengthening in resource-limited settings. The success of this model underscores its potential for adoption and replication across the African continent, offering a valuable framework for strengthening drug safety regulation and ultimately protecting public health.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice study of pharmacovigilance in a dental teaching institute in Western India

ABSTRACT Background: India started the National Programme of Pharmacovigilance in 2005, which was renamed as Pharmacovigilance Programme of India in 2010. This is the main portal for detecting and reporting the adverse effects of drugs. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of pharmacovigilance (Pv) in a dental teaching institute in Western India. Materials and Methods: The KAP questionnaire regarding Pv was distributed among the dental faculties. The knowledge-based questions were corrected and the scoring was given as excellent knowledge, good knowledge, fair knowledge, and poor knowledge for the scores between 0–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20, respectively. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed which is presented as frequencies (n) and percentages (%) in all three sections of the questionnaire. Results and Observations: The knowledge of 24 (44%) participants was found to be fair with scores between 6 and 10. The knowledge of 23 (42%) participants was found to be poor with scores between 0 and 5 and the knowledge of 8 (14%) participants was found to be good with scores between 11 and 15. A positive and promising attitude was exhibited by the dental faculties toward reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Only two study participants had reported an ADR event. Conclusion: The deficiencies in knowledge appear to be the underlying factor for the underreporting of adverse reactions encountered by dental practitioners.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance among Medical Interns and Medical Post Graduates in Tertiary Care Hospital

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance among Medical Interns and Medical Post Graduates in Tertiary Care Hospital

Effect of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Attitude Towards Reporting Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) in Military and Paramilitary Hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria

The study evaluated the effect of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on knowledge and attitude towards reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in military and paramilitary hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to determine if the level of knowledge and attitude has any significant effect on reporting ADRs. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires from the healthcare professionals (Doctors, Pharmacists, and Nurses) because of the position they occupy in the implementation of pharmacovigilance procedures. The technique employed in the data analysis is regression and the following results were obtained: the level of knowledge of HCPs on pharmacovigilance had a P- value of 0.027 < 0.05 while HCPs attitude had p-value of 0.010 < 0.05. Hence, the study concludes that knowledge level and attitude significantly affect ADR reporting. The following recommendations were made in line the findings: the need to improve training programs across all strata of HCPs as a means of updating their knowledge of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting procedures. Similarly, it is important to develop a culture of ADR Reporting amongst healthcare professionals in these hospitals; by raising the recognition of the importance of reporting both tolerable and moderate ADRs as well as previously unknown or severe ADRs, this strategy aims to promote a culture of ADR reporting.

Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude & Practice About Pharmacovigilance in Nursing Students in A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is crucial for healthcare professionals to know how to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To improve reporting rates, it is essential to improve knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare professionals regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting. According to previous studies, there has been a lack of knowledge in nursing students regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Hence, this study was planned to assess the impact of educational intervention on nursing students' knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Materials and Methods: This was an interventional study conducted among 93 BSc nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital, India. Each participant was explained the purpose of study and asked to fill in a questionnaire about their knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance. The post-KAP questionnaire was re-circulated among participants at the end of the intervention and data was analyzed using Chi square test. Results: The study involved 93 BSc nursing students aged 21.52 ± 1.11 years, with a male to female ratio of 1:2. All statistical calculations were performed using Graph Pad prism v10.1.0. Results showed significant differences in understanding pharmacovigilance between pre-intervention and post-intervention, and a significant change in attitudes towards pharmacovigilance due to the educational intervention. A statistically greater proportion of students learned about Pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting forms. Conclusion: The Continuing Medical Education (CME) and group discussions significantly enhanced the knowledge and attitude of nursing students regarding pharmacovigilance.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-sectional Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Nepal

Introduction: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) pose a major concern worldwide causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Healthcare professionals involved in identification, documentation and reporting of ADRs are the pillars of a pharmacovigilance program. Lack of knowledge influence the ADR reporting by healthcare professionals. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among healthcare professionals working at Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals working at Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal from August-December 2021 using a semi-structured proforma. Ethical clearance was obtained from Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu (396/2021P). The data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and the descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were calculated. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 11.5) was used for all statistical analysis. The findings were presented as tables and graphs. Results: Out of 88 healthcare professionals, 57 (64.77%) were females and 35 (39.77%) were staff nurse. Fifty-six (63.64%) participants knew that Department of Drug Administration is the authorized National center for pharmacovigilance program in Nepal. Thirty-six (40.91%) participants had good knowledge and 52 (59.09%) had poor knowledge of pharmacovigilance. Seventy-nine (89.77%) participants had positive attitude and 41 (46.59%) participants had poor practice. Seventy (79.55%) participants had not seen ADR reporting form. Conclusion: The healthcare professionals had insufficient knowledge, positive attitude and poor practice of pharmacovigilance. Efforts are required to enhance knowledge and good practice among healthcare professionals toward pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting which would ultimately strengthen the pharmacovigilance program.

Cross-sectional study of pharmacovigilance knowledge, attitudes, and practices based on structural equation modeling and network analysis: a case study of healthcare personnel and the public in Yunnan Province.

This study focuses on understanding pharmacovigilance knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in Yunnan Province, employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and network analysis. It aims to evaluate the interplay of these factors among healthcare personnel and the public, assessing the impact of demographic characteristics to inform policy and educational initiatives. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yunnan, targeting healthcare personnel and the public. Data collection was through questionnaires, with subsequent analysis involving correlation matrices, network visualization, and SEM. The data analysis utilized SPSS 27.0, AMOS 26.0, and Gephi software for network analysis. This study evaluated pharmacovigilance KAP among 209 public participants and 823 healthcare personnel, uncovering significant differences. Public respondents scored averages of 4.62 ± 2.70 in knowledge, 31.99 ± 4.72 in attitudes, and 12.07 ± 4.96 in practices, while healthcare personnel scored 4.38 ± 3.06, 27.95 ± 3.34, and 7.75 ± 2.77, respectively. Statistically significant correlations across KAP elements were observed in both groups, highlighting the interconnectedness of these factors. Demographic influences were more pronounced among healthcare personnel, emphasizing the role of professional background in pharmacovigilance competency. Network analysis identified knowledge as a key influencer within the pharmacovigilance KAP network, suggesting targeted education as a vital strategy for enhancing pharmacovigilance engagement. The research reveals a less-than-ideal state of pharmacovigilance KAP among both healthcare personnel and the public in Yunnan, with significant differences between the two groups. SEM and network analysis confirmed a strong positive link among KAP components, moderated by demographics like age, occupation, and education level. These insights emphasize the need to enhance pharmacovigilance education and awareness, thereby promoting safer drug use.

IMPACT OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON AWARENESS OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE AND ADR REPORTING AMONGST AYURVEDIC POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS

Objective: Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Ayurveda is one of the oldest healthcare systems, widely practiced in India and there is a misconception that AYU and H drugs are free from ADRs. Post-graduate (PG) students are fresh pass-out medical graduates and are major contributors in providing health care at tertiary care centres. The present study was planned with the aim of evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance amongst PG students and impact of an educational intervention on their knowledge and attitude.
 Methods: A pre-test, post-test questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted. 41 postgraduate students from different branches were included. An educational intervention in the form of sensitization programme, including basic knowledge of pharmacovigilance, monitoring system for pharmacovigilance andcase-based ADR reporting was conducted. A validated questionnaire consisting of questions regarding knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance was provided as a pre-test and post-test and the results were statistically evaluated.
 Results: Scores of pre-test reveals that the participants were aware of basic knowledge of pharmacovigilance but knowledge about reporting procedure and the monitoring system was lacking. The difference in mean scores of pre and post-test was statistically significant. Most of the participants agreed that reporting ADR improves drug safety and frequent sensitization programmes should be conducted but practically, they had not undergone any training/sensitization programme.
 Conclusion: The study reveals that even with the favorable attitude towards drug safety and ADR reporting, the unawareness of PG students about the monitoring system and deficient ADR reporting indicatesa strong need for the conduction of repeated training/sensitization programmes and other suitable methods for encouraging ADR reporting.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among medical students

Background: Spontaneous voluntary adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting is the backbone for the successful functioning of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India. 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. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of pharmacovigilance among medical students at LLRM Medical College, Meerut, a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to assess the KAP regarding pharmacovigilance. The medical students (2nd year, final year, and interns) were included in the study. Only the participants who gave their consent were included in the study. Results were calculated by proper statistical analysis. Results: The current study was conducted in a LLRM Medical College, Meerut, which included a total of 250 medical students of which 40% 2nd year, 40% final year students, and 20% interns. Most of them (83%) 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.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pharmacovigilance and Materiovigilance among Oral Health Practitioners in India

ABSTRACT Aim: This electronic survey was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among the oral health practitioners. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among undergraduates, graduated practitioners, and specialist practitioners. A Google Form that included a specified instruction format, informed consent with a clear description of the purpose of the study, and questions in different categories were sent through Whatsapp and email. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses. The association of knowledge and attitude with respect to oral health professionals was analyzed with the Chi-square test. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 570 participants. Thirty percent of participants encountered ADR related to the drugs available in the market and 33.2% of participants encountered adverse reaction related to materials used in practice. ADR should be reported as soon as it is detected, according to this study about 12.1% of participants reported the ADRs, and this reporting is primarily for patient safety. Almost 66.8% of participants perceived that dental products can cause ADR owing to a lack of information about ADR and reporting procedures, or due to fear of legal concerns. Only about 9.5% of the participants had previously attended an ADR workshop. Conclusion: Oral health practitioners have a general understanding of ADR; however, there is substantial evidence of underreporting and a lack of reporting system information. Organizing an orientation program and raising awareness about ADR reporting could help improve spontaneous reporting and better patient care.

A study on knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions awareness among health-care students in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Telangana, India

Background: The training of health-care students in pharmacovigilance (PV) fulfills curriculum requirements as well as providing early exposure for a secured use of medications in the future. Active participation of health-care professionals ensures successful implementation of PV. Aims and Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of PV among health-care students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted at Mamata Academy of Medical Sciences, Bachupally, between May 1st, 2023, and October 31st, 2023. After obtaining permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee, all health care students were provided with a study questionnaire in Google Docs. Results: Medical undergraduates (57.45%) were a majority of the 369 respondents (79.35%) enrolled. PharmDs had the highest response rate (84.76%), followed by medical (78.52%), and nursing (75.56%). The knowledge of PV terminologies was good among 50.47% of medical students, whereas 48.31% pharm ds were aware of adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting systems and concerned regulatory authorities. 66.51% of medical students and 57.3% of Pharmds had a positive attitude toward PV. However, most of the nursing students had poor knowledge and expressed a negative attitude. Around 33% of the study participants had encountered ADRs, and 33% of the encountered ADRs were reported. Medical undergraduates had significantly better knowledge and attitude, with a mean (standard deviation) total score of 8.03 (2.08) and 3.78 (0.84), respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The disparity of knowledge and attitude from the practice of PV among medical students and PharmDs consequently emphasizes to enroute our strategic initiatives to address the practical difficulties and foster a better reporting culture in the future.

Knowledge And Attitude Towards Pharmacovigilance Among Nurses

Pharmacovigilance is the science of tracking and managing side effects or medication-related problems. It focuses on detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse effects of drugs. Aim: To determine how nurses feel about pharmacovigilance and their knowledge of it. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among nurses at ACSMCH and SLMCH. A self-designed questionnaire (10 items) and a 5-point Likert scale (12 items) were used to measure knowledge and attitudes. Data was gathered through Google Forms and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Out of the participants, 74 (67.3%) were female, 97 (88.2%) were under 30 years old, 58 (52.7%) held a B.Sc. in Nursing, 88 (80%) had less than 5 years of experience, 43 (39.1%) were currently employed in a medical ward, and 37 (33.6%) had previous experience in a medical ward. Regarding knowledge of pharmacovigilance, 45 (40.9%) had inadequate knowledge, 42 (38.2%) demonstrated moderately adequate knowledge, and 23 (20.9%) had sufficient knowledge. In terms of attitude towards pharmacovigilance, 76 (69.1%) exhibited a favorable attitude, 27 (24.5%) had a moderately favorable attitude, and 7 (6.4%) showed an unfavorable attitude. Educational qualification (χ² = 13.275, p = 0.010) was found to have a statistically significant association with the level of knowledge. Similarly, gender (χ² = 10.693, p = 0.005) and educational qualification (χ² = 9.590, p = 0.048) were significantly associated with the level of attitude. Discussion & Implications: These findings are consistent with Veena et al. (2020), underscoring the need to increase awareness among nurses. Early interventions, such as regular classes, continuous education, and workshops on pharmacovigilance, should be implemented to improve knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that while nurses generally have an insufficient understanding of pharmacovigilance, they maintain a positive attitude toward reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs).