Awareness and knowledge of doctors, pharmacists and nurses on adverse drug reaction reporting systems in Namibia.
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Date
2020
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Abstract
Objective
Reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Namibian public health facilities is
routinely done through safety yellow forms which are forwarded to the Therapeutics
Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre (TIPC) for further assessment and possible
interventions. This study investigated the awareness and knowledge of healthcare
practitioners (HCPs) regarding the ADR reporting system in the country.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted via a self-administered questionnaire at two state
hospitals in Namibia; one located in the Khomas region and the other located in the
Hardap region. The questionnaire was distributed to HCPs in current practice dealing
directly with medication and it included a combination of open-ended, closed-ended and
multiple-choice questions. Questionnaires were distributed in hard copy form during the
period of 1 October 2019 up until 15 December 2019. Data was coded and transcribed
into Microsoft® Excel® 2016 and analysed with SPSS® for IOS version 24.
Results
One-hundred and three completed questionnaires were received. Sixty-eight percent of
the respondents were nurses, 24.3% were medical doctors and 7.8% were pharmacists.
The majority of HCPs (73.8% and 56.3% respectively) were able to define the terms
“adverse drug reaction” and “pharmacovigilance” correctly while only 41.7% correctly
defined “spontaneous reporting”. The majority of HCPs (60.2%) have identified an ADR
in practice; however only 36.9% reported this following the approved process. Only
48.5% of HCPs were aware of the safety yellow form for ADRs and 63.1% of HCPs did
not know where to obtain the form. Furthermore only 37.9% of HCPs knew the name of
the drug regulatory authority in Namibia.
Conclusion
Awareness and knowledge of ADR reporting systems by HCPs in Namibia is insufficient.
While HCPs deem it necessary to report ADRs, reporting is unacceptably low leading to
serious concerns regarding continuous monitoring of drug safety. Pharmacists showed
better awareness compared to other HCPs and can, therefore, be best utilised as focal
points in pharmacovigilance protraction. Mass awareness programs by the TIPC and other
stakeholders need to be established to expand pharmacovigilance among HCPs.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.