Abstract

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS PHARMACOVIGILANCE AND ADVERSE DRUG REACTION REPORTING AMONG MEDICINE AND PHARMACY STUDENTS

Shalini Sivadasan*, Ngan Yuong Yuong, Ng Woan Chyi, Amy Lau Siew Ching,Abdul Nazer Ali, Ravichandran Veerasamy, Kasi Marimuthu, DhanarajSockalingam Arumugam

ABSTRACT

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are one of the major problems associated with medicines. The effectiveness and success of any pharmacovigilance system depends highly on the participation of all health care professionals. Objective: The present study examined and compared the knowledge and perception towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions reporting among medicine and pharmacy students in a private university, Malaysia. Method: The survey was carried out using a pre-validated questionnaire that included the demographics and a total of 28 survey items organized into two sections including 15 questions related to knowledge, and 13 related to perception aspects. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to the respondents (n = 479) pre-final and final year medicine and pharmacy students who were willing to participate in the study after taking the informed consent. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The response rate of 63% was recorded. Among these, only 271 questionnaires were duly filled out, of which 77 were males and 194 were females. Of the total completed questionnaire (271), 49.44% were from medicine, 50.55% were from pharmacy students. Conclusion: Pharmacy students have better knowledge, awareness and understanding towards pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting compared to medicine students. As future health care professionals, they are expected to have sound knowledge, positive attitude and perception towards pharmacovigilance activities. The deficits in the practice of ADR reporting can be resolved in future only if all health care profession students are aware of the importance of reporting, the reporting system, and their obligation to report ADRs.

Keywords: Knowledge, perception, students, adverse drug reactions, reporting, pharmacovigilance.