Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Barriers regarding pharmacovigilance among Healthcare Professionals: a cross-sectional study at EHU Oran, Algeria

Objective: Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are a major public health issue, emphasizing the need for effective pharmacovigilance practices. This study aims to assess healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding ADR reporting and to identify barriers to effective reporting. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital of Oran, Algeria, involving healthcare professionals with direct contact. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-professional characteristics, KAP and barriers related to ADR reporting. Statistical analysis was performed with a 5% significance level. Results: A total of 139 healthcare professionals participated (34.75% response rate). While 90% claimed to know the ADR definition, only 68% were correct, and 58% identified pharmacovigilance correctly, despite 81% claiming knowledge. Pharmacists demonstrated higher knowledge compared to doctors and paramedics (p < 0.05). Only 29.5% found their pharmacovigilance training sufficient, although 78.4% expressed interest in further training. Although 88.9% recognized the pharmacovigilance service, only 14.4% were aware of reporting documents. Electronic reporting was preferred by 56.8%. The main barrier was uncertainty about drug-ADR causality (56.8%). Conclusion: The study highlights gaps in KAP related to pharmacovigilance. Enhancing awareness, addressing barriers, and providing targeted training can improve ADR reporting and strengthen pharmacovigilance systems.