Investigation on Perceptions, Attitudes, and Contributing Factors to Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting among Community Pharmacists: Results from a Web-based Survey

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the perceptions and attitudes toward spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system among community pharmacists and identify factors that influence reporting, by implementing a survey. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was developed and distributed online. Request for the survey was posted on the website of pharmacy's billing program, and the survey was conducted for 8 days. We collected the participants' response on their work environment, experience of ADR reporting, and their perception and attitude on the reporting system. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate factors influencing ADR reporting. RESULTS: A total of 382 pharmacists participated in the survey. Significant contributing factors for reporting level were age (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–0.96), knowledge of reporting method (OR, 53.56; 95% CI, 9.10–315.41), installation of reporting program (OR, 31.92; 95% CI, 4.16–244.75), and encouragement from the Korean pharmaceutical association (OR, 4.13; 95% CI, 1.11–15.35). Regarding the attitude toward spontaneous ADR reporting system, ‘lack of time for reporting’ (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.15–0.53) and ‘complexity of reporting procedure’ (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.31–0.84), were associated with a low likelihood of reporting. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the knowledge of ADR reporting method, installation of the reporting program, and encouragement from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association contribute to active reporting. It is necessary to simplify the reporting method, make the ADR reporting program user-friendly, and provide educational interventions to increase participation in spontaneous reporting by the community pharmacists.