OBJECTIVES: Drugs can treat diseases, reduce symptoms, and enhance patients’ health and quality of life. However, taking a drug is not always as easy as just swallowing a pill. This is because drugs have some unwanted effects. Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and contribute to excessive health care costs. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacy professionals towards adverse drug reporting.

METHODS: Community based cross sectional study designs were used from June - August 2021. The sampling methods were survey from community pharmacists. Self-administered questioner was used, and the collected data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20.

RESULTS: From a total of 215 community pharmacy professionals, 34(15.8%) of the respondents were able to differentiate ADR from side effects and only 56(26%) respondents felt that they are adequately trained in ADR reporting. Seventy-eight (36.3%) and 146(67.9%) knew the availability of national reporting system and ADR reporting form in Ethiopia respectively. The study revealed that 21.4% [95% CI: 18.6-35.9] and 42.3% [95% CI: 38.2-65.9] of community pharmacists have poor knowledge and negative attitude towards ADR reporting respectively. Patients with ADR that seen during the last 12 months were 115 (53.5%) and patients seen with ADR during the last 12 months 86 (74.8%) were reported the adverse drug reactions are good practice. Getting training and positive attitude towards ADR reporting had significant association with good ADR reporting practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Underreporting of ADR by community pharmacists were identified in this study. Training sessions to clarify the role of various community pharmacists in ADR reporting, will hopefully fill the observed gap in knowledge and practices. The community pharmacy should formulate strategies to enhance detection and reporting of ADRs.