Awareness of Digital Reporting of Adverse Drug Events among Health Care Professionals

Abstract

Article information Background: Digital reporting of adverse events remains the most important tool to improve pharmacovigilance information related to drugs introduced in the market with good efficacy and limited safety knowledge perceived from clinical trials. Aim of the Study: The study aimed to identify the knowledge and awareness of digital reporting of adverse drug events among healthcare professionals working at a tertiary care hospital in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted with Physicians, Pharmacists, Technicians and Nurses. The questionnaire comprised items regarding awareness of pharmacovigilance and digital reporting of ADRs and perception and attitudes of healthcare professionals in digital reporting of adverse drug events. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results: Healthcare professionals received 200 questionnaires in total, and 200 participants responded, yielding a 100% response rate among which 108 were male and 92 were female. 98 doctors, 32 pharmacists, 11 technicians, and 59 nurses comprised the group of healthcare professionals. 72% of healthcare professionals were familiar with the phrase "pharmacovigilance." Nearly 73% of healthcare professionals did not know the method of digital reporting of ADR and their nearby pharmacovigilance centers. In addition, 88% agreed that ADRs need to be reported digitally because it is easy and convenient and 92% agreed that it is their professional responsibility. Conclusion: Our study shows that awareness of pharmaco-vigilance and digital ADR reporting among healthcare professionals is relatively low.