Adverse drug reaction reporting by hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To study hospital pharmacists attitude and behavior toward reporting of adverse drug reactions [ADRs] in different hospitals throughout Saudi Arabia. This is a descriptive study on a sample of 510 hospital pharmacists who were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire. The first section of questions sought to obtain pharmacists and pharmacy demographics, references available and continuing education activity. It also covered general questions that were intended to measure the extent of the respondent's knowledge regarding the Saudi ADR reporting system and pharmacists' behavior toward it. Another section of the questionnaire explored pharmacist's attitude to reporting and factors that may affect their attitude. The response rate by pharmacists was 67.1% in which more than half were Saudi pharmacists [56.7%]. The study showed that 45.6% of pharmacists were aware of the ADR reporting program in Saudi Arabia. Almost all the respondents considered the reporting of ADR to be an essential part of their professional responsibility and acknowledge the importance of reporting. Only 7% of pharmacists in the study submitted an ADR report to the Ministry of Health, while 23.1% of them claimed they submitted an ADR report to their hospitals. The study also showed many barriers affecting ADR reporting by hospital pharmacists such as insufficient clinical knowledge [42.7%], all serious side effects are detected before marketing [35.7%], unknown address of the reporting agency [33.6%], reporting form not available [33.3%], do not know how to report [22.6%] and finally the form is complicated to be filled [17.3%]. When looking at the factors that could encourage ADR reporting, the study showed that the publication of an ADR bulletin [64.3%] and receiving a feedback from the program [64.1%] are important factors to be considered. Hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia seem to have a good knowledge regarding the country's ADR reporting system but they are still considered underreporting. Many barriers were identified in the study that is negatively affecting ADR reporting. The results highlight the importance of promoting and improving the current ADR reporting system in Saudi Arabia and try to overcome any barrier that could prevent such progress