Impact of Educational Intervention on Maternity Nurses’ Proficiency and Attitudes Toward Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting

Background: Adverse drug reactions lead to numerous fatalities, impairments, and other severe consequences. Maternity nurses administer medications, monitor positive and negative drug reactions, and are at the forefront of safety reporting. Aim: To find out the impact of an educational intervention on the maternity nurses’ proficiency and attitudes towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions reporting. Design: This study employed quasi-experimental research design (pre and post-tests) with one group. Settings: The research was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecological Departments of University Hospital and Teaching Hospital in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate. Sample: A purposive sample of 79 maternity nurses was selected after meeting the sample's inclusion criteria. Data collection instruments included a structured interview questionnaire, maternity nurses' practices towards adverse drug reactions reporting, and maternity nurses' attitudes towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions reporting. Results: A significant statistical variance existed in knowledge, practice, and attitudes towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions reporting among maternity nurses before and after educational intervention (p<0.001). In conclusion, the educational intervention successfully enhanced the knowledge and attitudes of maternity nurses about pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions reporting, leading to an improvement in their practice. Recommendations: It is important to incorporate pharmacovigilance into the nursing curriculum to familiarize nurses with this concept early in their careers, and educational initiatives on pharmacovigilance and reporting adverse drug reactions should be enhanced for maternity nurses across all healthcare facilities.