Pharmacovigilance: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Medical Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal

Authors

  • Kamal Kandal Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0451-2607
  • Naresh Karki Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital
  • Kyushu Shah Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital
  • Pravin Prasad Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Keywords:

Adverse drug reactions, Attitude, Knowledge, Medical Professionals, Pharmacovigilance, Practice

Abstract

Introduction: Awareness regarding pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting by medical professionals significantly contribute to the safer use of medicine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding pharmacovigilance among the medical professionals at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. 

Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Printed questionnaires were distributed to all the medical professionals and collected data were analyzed to find the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the medical professionals regarding pharmacovigilance. 

Results: A total of 107 medical professionals, 77 (71.96%) males and 30 (28.04%) females, participated in the study. The overall response rate was 98.16%. In this study,70.1% of medical professionals knew the definition of pharmacovigilance, and more than half of the participants(63.6%) did not know the existence of the national pharmacovigilance center. Regarding attitude, 52.3% of the medical professionals strongly agreed that adverse drug reaction reporting and monitoring systems were beneficial to patients or improved patient care. Half of the medical professionals would sometimes counsel the patients about adverse drug reactions. Almost half of  medical professionals mentioned that the major factor behind underreporting was insufficient knowledge of where to report adverse drug reactions. Training on pharmacovigilance was the main recommendation from the participants (52.3%) to improve the pharmacovigilance program.

Conclusion: There is room for improvement in the knowledge, attitude and practice of the participants. Most medical professionals suggested training or continuing medical education as a way to improve pharmacovigilance programs.

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Abstract
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Author Biographies

Kamal Kandal, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology

Naresh Karki, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology

Kyushu Shah, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology

Pravin Prasad, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology

Published

2021-12-30

How to Cite

Kandal, K., Karki, N., Shah, K., & Prasad, P. (2021). Pharmacovigilance: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Medical Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal. Journal of Lumbini Medical College, 9(2). Retrieved from https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JLMC/article/view/47192

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles