ABSTRACT
Pharmacovigilance has not progressed well in India and the concept is still in its infancy. India rates below 1% in pharmacovigilance as against the world rate of 5%. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the knowledge, perception and practice of pharmacovigilance among registered community pharmacists in Hyderabad, India. Methods: This was a prospective study to find out the knowledge, perception and practice of adverse drug reaction reporting among community pharmacists. It was conducted by a face to face questionnaire and the convenience factor of the pharmacist was taken into consideration. Results: From the 650 questionnaire administered to community pharmacists, 347 (53.3%) were returned completely filled questionnaires. A number of 120 (34.6%) pharmacists could define the term «pharmacovigilance» to an acceptable extent and 119 (34.3%) knew about the National Pharmacovigilance Programme in India. 96 (27.7%) had good knowledge, 36(10.4%) had fair knowledge and 215(61.9%) had poor knowledge about pharmacovigilance. We have found that 196 (56.5%) had good perception, 94(27.1%) had fair perception and 57(16.4%) had poor perception. Only 41(11.8%) pharmacists ever reported an ADR and the other never reported ADR. The majority of pharmacists 223(64.3%) felt that the AE is very simple and non-serious and hence did not report. Pharmacists have poor knowledge, good perception and negligibly low reporting rates. Conclusions: Incorporation of ADR reporting concepts in education curriculum, training of pharmacists and voluntary participation of pharmacists in ADR reporting is very crucial in achieving the safety goals and safeguarding public health (AU)
La farmacovigilancia no ha progresado adecuadamente en India y el concepto esta aun en su niñez. El 1% de farmacovigilancia en India se sitúa por debajo del 5% mundial. Objetivos: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es evaluar el conocimiento, percepción y práctica de farmacovigilancia entre los farmacéuticos comunitarios registrados en Hyderabad, India. Métodos: Este fue un estudio prospectivo para identificar el conocimiento, percepción y práctica de las comunicaciones de reacciones adversas entre farmacéuticos comunitarios. Se realizó un cuestionario presencial y se tuvieron en cuenta los factores de conveniencia del farmacéutico. Resultados: De los 650 cuestionarios administrados a farmacéuticos, 347 (53,3%) retornaron completamente cumplimentados. 120 (34,6%) farmacéuticos podían definir aceptablemente el término «farmacovigilancia» y 119 (34,3%) sabia de la existencia del Programa Nacional de Farmacovigilancia en India. 96 (27,7%) tenía un buen conocimiento, 36 (10,4%) tenía un conocimiento medio y 215 (61,9%) tenía un conocimiento pobre sobre farmacovigilancia. Encontramos que 196 (56,5%) tenían buenas percepciones, 94 (27,1%) tenían percepciones medias, y 57 (16,4%) tenían percepciones malas. Sólo 41 (11,8%) farmacéuticos habían comunicado alguna vez una RAM. La mayoría de los farmacéuticos, 23 (64,3%), entendía que los eventos adversos eran muy simples, no graves y por tanto no tenían que comunicarlos. Los farmacéuticos tuvieron pocos conocimientos, buenas percepciones y tasas de comunicación despreciables, Conclusiones: La incorporación de los conceptos de comunicación e RAM en el currículo educativo, la formación de farmacéuticos y la participación de farmacéuticos en la comunicación de RAM es crucial para alcanzar las metas de seguridad y salvaguardar la salud pública (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Pharmacovigilance , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Perception , Product Surveillance, Postmarketing/statistics & numerical data , Attitude of Health Personnel , Epidemiological Monitoring/organization & administration , Knowledge , Surveys and Questionnaires , Notification , Drug Prescription of Special Control , India/epidemiologyABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Pharmacovigilance has not progressed well in India and the concept is still in its infancy. India rates below 1% in pharmacovigilance as against the world rate of 5%. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the knowledge, perception and practice of pharmacovigilance among registered community pharmacists in Hyderabad, India. METHODS: This was a prospective study to find out the knowledge, perception and practice of adverse drug reaction reporting among community pharmacists. It was conducted by a face to face questionnaire and the convenience factor of the pharmacist was taken into consideration. RESULTS: From the 650 questionnaire administered to community pharmacists, 347 (53.3%) were returned completely filled questionnaires. A number of 120 (34.6%) pharmacists could define the term 'pharmacovigilance' to an acceptable extent and 119 (34.3%) knew about the National Pharmacovigilance Programme in India. 96 (27.7%) had good knowledge, 36(10.4%) had fair knowledge and 215(61.9%) had poor knowledge about pharmacovigilance. We have found that 196 (56.5%) had good perception, 94(27.1%) had fair perception and 57(16.4%) had poor perception. Only 41(11.8%) pharmacists ever reported an ADR and the other never reported ADR. The majority of pharmacists 223(64.3%) felt that the AE is very simple and non-serious and hence did not report. Pharmacists have poor knowledge, good perception and negligibly low reporting rates. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of ADR reporting concepts in education curriculum, training of pharmacists and voluntary participation of pharmacists in ADR reporting is very crucial in achieving the safety goals and safeguarding public health.
