Title: DOCTORS' AND PHARMACISTS' KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND BARRIERS TOWARDS ADVERSE DRUG REACTION

Biography:

 Panjasaram (Vassie) Naidoo is a Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu Natal. She serves in the Human and Social Science Research Ethics Committee, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), the Scheduling and Naming Committee of the Medicines Control Council of SA and is the current Chairman of the CPD Committee. She is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa and a Member of the International AIDS Society and the International Federation of Pharmacists. Her research interests include HIV/AIDS with sub themes in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Pharmacovigilance. She supervises Master’s and PhD students and has over 25 publications in reputed journals.

Abstract

Adverse drug reactions affect adults and children in varying magnitudes, resulting in mortality and morbidity. Reporting of ADR as part of pharmacovigilance activity, is vital to ensure positive health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the current knowledge, practice and perceived barriers towards adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting amongst doctors and pharmacists in teaching hospitals situated in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Descriptive quantitative cross sectional study was conducted amongst doctors and pharmacists in 5 teaching hospitals in KwaZulu Natal, using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was captured and analyzed using SPSS version 22 with  p values <0.05 considered statistically significant. Response rate was 76.5% [98] .  Whilst 100% of respondents were familiar with the term pharmacovigilance (PV), knowledge scores were low with 85.71% selecting the incorrect definition. No training was received by 68.36% of respondents on ADR reporting.  Even though 59 (60.2%) respondents indicated that their patient experienced an ADR, only 46.94% actually reported the ADR, with only 4 respondents satisfied with the feedback received from authorities after reporting an ADR.  Barriers were cited that prevented respondents from reporting ADRs.  Respondents were also not happy with the South African PV system. Over 70% of respondents indicated that they would participate in a PV training programme. Whilst the majority of pharmacists and doctors were familiar with the concept of PV, less than 50% reported an ADR. Many barriers were cited that contributed to respondents not effectively practising  PV  with the majority willing to participate in PV training to better their knowledge.