A Questionnaire Study on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pharmacovigilance among the Medical Post Graduates in a Teaching Hospital in West Uttar Pradesh

ABSTRACT

Background: Pharmacovigilance aids in early detection of ADRs and as well as identification of various risk factors. Reporting of ADRs is crucial for the success of pharmacovigilance program. Aims/Objective: This questionnaire based study among medical resident’s aims at assessing knowledge, attitude & practice towards adverse drug reaction reporting in the teaching hospital attached to a private medical college and design methods to improve existing ADR reporting system in our setup. Methods: This study is a questionnaire based cross-sectional study. It was conducted at Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & research Centre, Moradabad, West Uttar Pradesh, among the first year and final year medical post graduates/PGs, by using a pre-validated, modified questionnaire on knowledge, attitude & practice. A total of 90 questionnaires were duly filled out by the post graduates. Data was analyzed by using SPSS V.20. The chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Majority (89%) reported to have reasonable knowledge of adverse drug reactions, but reported an average degree of knowledge regarding various aspects of pharmacovigilance. 61% respondents were not aware of presence of an AMC affiliated to this hospital. Final year medical post graduates were found to have poor attitude towards acts of reporting of adverse drug reactions although they pose better knowledge regarding drug safety as well as importance of ADR reporting. Lack of training (90%) on ADR reporting was also recorded. Conclusions: This study recorded average knowledge, positive attitude towards necessity of reporting of ADRs of medical post graduates. Necessity of educational interventions to update knowledge and improve practice of ADR reporting were identified as important measures that need to be taken care of.