Pharmacovigilance: An Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Professionals towards Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting In Central Region of Malawi

Abstract

AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess level of knowledge, attitude and practices of dispensing healthcare professionals towards adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting and to determine if there are any differences in knowledge, attitude and practices among dispensing healthcare professionals METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional survey using stratified random sampling technique was employed to draw 114 health facilities using categories of public hospitals, private clinics/hospitals and community pharmacies as strata. Every dispensing healthcare professional found in the main pharmacy of the sampled facilities was targeted. RESULTS: Dispensing healthcare professionals have positive attitude but limited knowledge and poor practice towards ADR reporting. There is significant difference on knowledge towards ADR reporting among healthcare professionals as more of pharmaceutical personnel and medical doctors indicated having knowledge than the other dispensing cadres but there is no significant difference in attitude and practice towards ADR reporting. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals in central region of Malawi have limited knowledge and poor practice but positive attitude towards ADR reporting. Lack of training, unavailability of reporting tools and lack of information on how to report has greatly influenced the poor practice of ADR reporting. Educational and awareness interventions on pharmacovigilance, use of appropriately trained personnel and provision of required support to healthcare professionals would greatly improve ADR reporting.