OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to explore knowledge, attitudes and practices of general physicians (GPs) about medication safety and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.

METHODS: A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth knowledge of the issues. By using a semi-structured interview guide, 10 physicians practicing in the city of Lahore, Pakistan were purposively selected. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and were then analysed for thematic contents by the standard content analysis framework.

RESULTS: Thematic content analysis (TCA) yielded five major themes. (1) Familiarity with medication safety and ADR reporting, (2) current practice of medication safety and ADR reporting, (3) training needed to improve medication safety and ADR reporting, (4) need of an online resource system to disseminate knowledge about ADRs at national level (5) barriers toward ADR reporting. Majority of the GPs were unaware of ADR reporting system and only a handful had the concept of ADR reporting. They were ready to accept practice change if provided with the required skills and training. Lack of personal knowledge, lack of time, poor training, inadequate physician and other healthcare professionals collaboration and most importantly lack of a proper reporting system were reported as barriers towards the reporting of ADR in hospital settings.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings helped identifying a number of key themes that can be used to establish an effective reporting system in Pakistan. Overall GPs reported a positive attitude towards practice change provided the administrative authorities support and take interest in the establishment of an actively functional pharmacovigilance system in healthcare facilities around the country.