Educational Intervention to Improve the Knowledge, Attitude, Practices of Health Care Professionals and Students Regarding the Pharmacovigilance in Tertiary Care Hospitals

Introduction: An adverse drug reaction (ADR) is any noxious, unintended, and undesired effect of a drug, which occurs at the doses which are used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy, which is reported by ‘‘the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem” known as PV. ADRs are significantly underreported worldwide. A KAP survey usually conducted to collect information on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about general and/or specific topics of a particular population.

Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the KAP studies on the educational intervention to improve the knowledge, attitude, practice of health care professionals and students regarding the pharmacovigilance in tertiary care hospitals. To evaluate, assess and evaluate the measures the knowledge, attitude and practice of PV among students and Health Care Professionals in tertiary care hospital of India.

Methods: Pharmacists and HCPs were asked to complete a paper-based 21 item questionnaire.

Results: A total of 250 pharmacists received the questionnaire and 214 agreed to participate, giving a response rate of 85.6%. In knowledge, component of ADR were known by 71.2% and the term PV and ADR were answered correctly (97.3%). In practice 55.9% attended the PV workshop and 88.8% were willing to implement ADR reporting in practice.

Conclusion: Most of the participants had relatively better knowledge and practice towards PV and ADR reporting. Majority of the health care professional felt ADR reporting to be important. The study also shows, after counseling to them we got better response and results than before. The finding of our study suggests that there is scope for improving the ongoing Pharmacovigilance activities in India. There is a need for continuing educational initiatives for pharmacist and other health care professionals.