Pharmacovigilance in Community Pharmacy: Evaluating Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding ADRs in Hyderabad

Abstract

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) result in additional illnesses, deaths, and healthcare costs, not to mention the greater public health implications of ADRs. As drug experts, chemists can spearhead the prevention, recognition, and reporting of adverse reactions. As the only healthcare professionals who interact with patients and receive prescriptions, community chemists are best positioned to mitigate the odds of ADRs occurring, though the KAP of chemists certainly pharmacovigilance and reporting ADRs is critical to success in this area. The aim of this research is to evaluate the ADRrelated knowledge of community chemists in Hyderabad. A total of 400 chemists from different areas in Hyderabad took part in this cross-sectional survey. A standardized questionnaire that covered demographic and educational information and knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning ADRs was used to collect data, which was then analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results indicated that while participants demonstrated ADR and pharmacovigilance knowledge, the engagement in ADR reporting was not integrated into their professional practice. Advanced educational and ADR training disproportionally increased pharmacists' adherence to ADR reporting. Additionally, these findings indicate the need for ongoing education, improvement of regulations, and consolidated efforts in training aimed at encouraging community pharmacists’ participation in community pharmacovigilance. This study's findings will aid regulatory bodies and policymakers in encouraging community pharmacists’ participation in ADR reporting aimed at improving ADR surveillance and safeguarding patients’ safety.