OBJECTIVES : To measure community pharmacists’ knowledge and perspectives towards ADR reporting and their reporting practice

METHODS : A prospective cross sectional study was carried out by administering validated barrier assessment questionnaire towards ADR reporting was conducted during 10 months of period. Community pharmacists practicing in the Mysuru district, were approached for the participation in this study. Barrier Assessment Questionnaire (BAQ) was administered to assess the barriers if any in ADR reporting. At the end of the study, frequencies and percentages were used to measure demographic details of the participant and Chi-Square test were applied to identify covariate for the barriers to ADR reporting.

RESULTS : 117 community pharmacists participated in the study, (94.05%) were male and (5.95%) female. The mean ± SD age for community pharmacists was 40.89 ±7.65 years. The majority of participants in the (41-45) age group were 37.62%.About 48 % of the pharmacists were aware with the existing pharmacovigilance program of India., the study findings shows that 56.8% of participants have strongly disagreed with the statement I am not aware that I can report suspected adverse drug. Major barriers identified for under reporting were lack of time (81%), inadequate knowledge and skills (71%), and lack of time from patients (59%). About 47.6% participants have mentioned reporting of ADR will take their business time followed by unavailability of ADR reporting forms in their pharmacy.

CONCLUSIONS

: The study findings conclude that Indian community pharmacists have inadequate knowledge about the importance of spontaneous ADR reporting system and Pharmacovigilance program of India.