A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating the Knowledge, Attitude of Undergraduate Medical Students About Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting at a Medical College in Hyderabad

Abstract

Objectives: Objectives of the study were (1) to evaluate the knowledge about pharmacovigilance and (2) to assess the attitude toward adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among undergraduate medical students.Methods: It is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Hyderabad, Telangana, among fifth term Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery students (136). The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions dealing with knowledge, awareness, attitude about pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. Data were analyzed and presented as percentage among respondents.Results: About 58.8% of students could not identify the proper definition of pharmacovigilance and 84.5% of undergraduates have not seen ADR form. It was agreed among 42.6% of students that ADR reporting is a professional obligation to them and 47.7% agreed that establishing ADR monitoring center in every hospital is compulsory. Conclusions:Our study revealed that though the attitude toward pharmacovigilance was appreciable among the medical students; there lies an insufficient knowledge and awareness about pharmacovigilance. Continued medical education programs and workshops may be helpful in the future to increase awareness and consequently to improve the rate of spontaneous ADR reporting among these upcoming doctors.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance Among Undergraduate Medical and Dental Students of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

“…Similar findings are seen in other studies. 16,17 Furthermore, 89.7% of respondents thought that ADR monitoring and reporting center should be there in all teaching hospitals. A study in India reported that only 46.9% of participants thought that establishing ADR monitoring center in every hospital was necessary.…”