A study on the knowledge, attitude, and practice on adverse drug reactions and pharmacovigilance among nursing staff

Background: Lack of knowledge of pharmacovigilance and underreporting of adverse drug reaction (ADR) are worldwide problems of big concern. Gross underreporting of ADR in India led to increased hospital admissions, increase in length of hospital stay, and increase in healthcare cost burden. Aims and Objectives: This study was planned to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice on ADR and pharmacovigilance among nursing staff in Gandhi Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional, and observational study was conducted among nursing staff in a tertiary care Centre. Data were collected in the form of a validated questionnaire comprised of 17 questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice of nursing staff toward ADR and Pharmacovigilance. Data were analysis by descriptive statistics and result was computed. Results: Around 33% of respondents were aware of Pharmacovigilance program of India and 99% of them had knowledge about main objective of pharmacovigilance. Out of total filled questionnaire received, only 12% nurses practiced reporting ADR. The major factor discouraging participants from reporting ADR was lack of time to report. The majority of nursing staff had a positive attitude toward awareness of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. Conclusion: Our study has shown that there is lack of correct knowledge regarding ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance among staff nurses. Although, the attitude toward ADR reporting was adequate, the actual practice of ADR reporting is unsatisfactory. Hence, it is essential to train staff nurses regarding pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting

Reações adversas a medicamentos no sistema de farmacovigilância do Brasil, 2008 a 2013: estudo descritivo / Adverse drug reactions reported to the Brazilian pharmacovigilance system from 2008 to 2013: descriptive study / Reacciones adversas a medicamentos en el sistema de farmacovigilancia de Brasil, de 2008 a 2013: estudio descriptivo

Resumo: Analisam-se as suspeitas de reações adversas a medicamentos notificadas no sistema de farmacovigilância do Brasil (Notivisa-medicamento) entre 2008 e 2013. Trata-se de estudo descritivo cujas unidades de análises da base de dados foram as notificações e os pares medicamento-reação adversa. Foi identificado um total de 26.554 notificações, o que produziu uma taxa de notificação de 22,8 milhões de habitantes/ano. As notificações referentes ao sexo feminino (60,5%) prevaleceram, assim como a raça/cor branca (58,1%). A idade variou de 0 a 112 anos (mediana = 46 anos). Quase 1/3 (32,5%) das suspeitas de reações adversas a medicamentos ocorreram em populações vulneráveis (idosos e crianças). Foram avaliados 54.288 registros de pares de medicamento-reação adversa, em que prevaleceram as reações adversas graves (59,2%), com destaque para as que resultaram em efeito clinicamente importante (83,1%). Os medicamentos mais frequentes nas reações adversas a medicamentos graves pertenceram aos grupos L - agentes neoplásicos e imunomodulares (32,1%) e J - anti-infeciosos gerais para uso sistêmico (27%), ao passo que o sistema-órgão-classe mais afetado foi o relacionado a afecções da pele e distúrbios afins (23,7%). O Notivisa-medicamento é relevante recurso para a produção de sinais de alertas e hipóteses sobre a segurança de medicamentos comercializados no Brasil. No entanto, a taxa de notificação por milhão de habitantes/ano mostrou-se muito inferior àquela descrita por países de média e alta renda.

Abstract: The study aimed to analyze suspected adverse drug reactions reported to Brazil's pharmacovigilance system (Notivisa-medicamento) from 2008 to 2013. This was a descriptive study whose analytical units in the database were reports and drug-adverse reactions pairs. A total of 26,554 reports were identified, for a reporting rate of 22.8/million inhabitants/year. Reports in female patients prevailed (60.5%), as did white color/race (58.1%). Age ranged from 0 to 112 years (median = 46 years). Nearly one-third (32.5%) of suspected adverse drug reactions occurred in vulnerable populations (elderly and children). A total of 54,288 drug- adverse reactions pairs were analyzed, with a prevalence of severe adverse drug reactions (59.2%), featuring those that resulted in clinically important effects (83.1%). The most frequent drugs in severe adverse drug reactions belonged to groups L, antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (32.1%), and J, general anti-infectious agents for systemic use (27%), while the most affected system-organ-class was conditions of the skin and related disorders (23.7%). Notivisa-medicamento is an important resource for producing warning signs and hypotheses on the safety of drugs marketed in Brazil. However, the reporting rate per million inhabitants/year was far lower than that described in middle and high-income countries.

Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las sospechas de reacciones adversas a medicamentos, notificadas en el sistema de farmacovigilancia de Brasil (Notivisa-medicamento), entre 2008 y 2013. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo cuyas unidades de análisis en la base de datos fueron las notificaciones y los pares medicamento-reacción adversa. Se identificaron un total de 26.554 notificaciones, generando una tasa de notificación de 22,8/ millones de habitantes/año. Las notificaciones referentes al sexo femenino (60,5%) prevalecieron, así como, la raza/color blanco (58,1%). La edad varió de 0 a 112 años (mediana = 46 años). Casi 1/3 (32,5%) de las sospechas de reacciones adversas a medicamentos ocurrieron en poblaciones vulnerables (ancianos y niños). Se evaluaron 54.288 registros de pares de medicamento-reacción adversa, donde prevalecieron las reacciones adversas graves (59,2%), destacando las que resultaron en un efecto clínicamente importante (83,1%). Los medicamentos más frecuentes en las reacciones adversas a medicamentos graves pertenecieron a los grupos L - agentes neoplásicos e inmunomoduladores (32,1%) y J - antiinfecciosos generales para uso sistémico (27%), mientras que el sistema-órgano-clase más afectado fue afecciones de la piel y disturbios afines (23,7%). El Notivisa-medicamento es una herramienta relevante para la producción de señales de alerta e hipótesis sobre la seguridad de medicamentos comercializados en Brasil. No obstante, la tasa de notificación por millón de habitantes/año se mostró muy inferior a la que está descrita en países de media y alta renta.

Importancia de la farmacovigilancia en pediatría / Importance of pharmacovigilance in the Mexican pediatric population

Con el objetivo de destacar la importancia de la farmaco vigilancia en pediatría, se efectuó una revisión con especial énfasis en sus aspectos generales y conceptuales, sustentados en la Norma Oficial Mexicana y otras. Se describen las diferentes clasificaciones de las Reacciones Adversas a los Medicamentos (RAM) y de los Eventos Adversos a los Medicamentos (EAM). Utilizando como fuente la base de datos del Centro de Monitoreo Internacional de los Medicamentos, en la que se analiza hasta el año 2006 el estado actual de los reportes de las RAM de 82 países, en el que México se ubica, por grupos de edad y por número de reportes, en un lugar intermedio con el resto de los países. Se destaca el impacto de las RAM en la población general en aspectos de morbilidad, mortalidad, secuelas y economía. Se comunican las experiencias de grupos internacionales sobre el impacto de los EAM y las RAM en la edad pediátrica y neonatal. Se mencionan varias recomendaciones que permitirán que en México se implante o mejore un sistema de farmacovigilancia en los niños, en el que el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez ha iniciado un ambicioso programa.

In order to emphasize the importance of pharmacovigilance in children, a review was carried out with special emphasis on general and conceptual aspects outlined in the Mexican Official Norm and other documents. The different classifications from the Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) and Adverse Drug Events (ADE) are discussed. Using the data base of the WHO Collabotatory Center for Drugs International Monitoring, uppsala Monitoring Center (Sweden) we analyzed up to the year 2006 the present status of the ADR reports from 82 countries. Mexico ranks in the middle classified by age groups and number of reports in the data base. The impact of ADR stands out in the general population according to morbidity, mortality, sequealaes and cost considerations. The impact of ADE and ADR in new-borns and pediatric patients reports the experiences of international groups. Several recommendations are mentioned that will allow a system of pharmacovigilance to be established or improved for children in Mexico. The Hospital Infantil of Mexico has initiated an ambitious program.