Practices and Barriers towards Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reporting among Intern Pharmacists in Nigeria
Shadrach Chinecherem Eze *
Department of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
Evaristus Chinonso Odoh
Department of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
Kingsley Chinemerem Eze
Department of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Wisdom Enyinnaya Arugo
Department of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Gerald Obinna Ozota
Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Ugomma Loveth Anyaji
Department of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
Collins Chukwuemeka Magbo
Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Chidimma Elizabeth Mbakamma
Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Victor Chikaodiri Amaechi
Department of Pharmacy, Millitary Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
Chimaobi Jude Nwiyi
Department of Pharmacy, Millitary Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
Kennedy Onyedikachi Ijegalu
Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria.
Goodness Chizorom Nwokebu
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The practice of Pharmacovigilance (PV) and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting is very necessary to ensure adequate safety of all drugs in use and is an integral component of post marketing surveillance. Pharmacist, including interns are at a central position in carrying out this important function.
Objectives: This study sought to assess the practice of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting and the perceived barriers towards its implementation among pharmacist interns in Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among pharmacist interns in Nigeria. The 18-item semi-structured questionnaires were administered online using simple random sampling with the snowballing technique to recruit the participants and the results were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. The chi-square test was used to evaluate associations.
Results: A total of 450 pharmacist interns participated in this study. The practice of PV and ADR reporting is poor among the respondents, less than 40% of the participants have ever reported ADR before, while only 29.1% have reported ADR since starting their internship program. Only 35.8% said “yes” to documenting ADR. Verbal information (61.1%) is the most widely used method of reporting ADR. Lack of cohesion among healthcare professionals, unavailability of feedback from relevant authorities, and fear of being wrong are the most reported barriers towards PV and ADR reporting among the participants. This is a correlation between the number of months spent in internship program and the practice of PV by the participants. ‘Fear of being wrong’ is an essential barrier to PV and ADR reporting among participants in tertiary hospitals (86.0%).
Conclusion: The practice of pharmacovigilance is poor among the participants. Many barriers also affect ADR reporting among the interns. Measures should be taken to encourage ADR reporting and the reported barriers should be reviewed to improve pharmacovigilance activities.
Keywords: Pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction, practice, barriers, pharmacist interns, Nigeria
How to Cite
References
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