Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers on pharmacovigilance: a cross-sectional survey in general hospitals in Iraq

Background : Pharmacovigilance’s main goal is to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting in general hospitals in Nineveh. Materials and methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCPs in general hospitals of Mosul City. It consisted of four sections (demographic data, and questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices). Results : A total of 391 HCPs took part in this study. Of them, 242 were aware of the purpose of pharmacovigilance; however, only 167 defined it correctly. Only 126 HCPs reported ADRs, although 329 HCPs stated that they are willing to implement ADR reporting practices. Profession played a critical role in determining both knowledge and practice scores, where pharmacists exhibited the highest scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion : The findings of this study highlight the insufficient knowledge among HCPs along with significant underreporting.