An Evaluation of Physicians' and Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours About Pharmacovigilance: Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: As defined by the World Health Organization, pharmacovigilance encompasses the scientific and operational aspects of detecting, evaluating, understanding and preventing adverse effects and other problems associated with medicines. The aim of this study, conducted between March and April 2024, was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of physicians and pharmacists in Türkiye regarding pharmacovigilance, reporting and follow-up of an adverse drug reaction (ADR). Material and Methods: The survey questions were developed through a process of reviewing and adapting those used in similar studies. Results: A total of 101 doctors and 101 pharmacists participated in the study. The proportion of pharmacists trained in reporting ADRs is significantly higher than that of physicians (p<0.001). Most of the participants surveyed believed that they were responsible for reporting ADRs. However, at 12.9% for doctors and 50.5% for pharmacists, the proportion of participants who had experienced and reported such reactions was relatively low. A higher proportion of pharmacists than of doctors believed that there would be no consequences if they failed to report an ADR (p<0.001). In 2023, a total of 32 participants reported ADRs. Almost all participants considered pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting to be important and that detailed pharmacovigilance training should be provided to healthcare workers. It was observed that doctors and pharmacists in this survey had a limited understanding of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. Conclusion: The results indicate that participants are open to receiving training on monitoring and reporting ADRs, will take the training seriously, and will report ADRs when adequately informed.