KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TOWARDS PHARMACOVIGILANCE AT KAYUNGA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KAYUNGA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background:

Purpose of the study: The study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare professionals towards pharmacovigilance at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, Kayunga district.

Methodology:

The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive study design, simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected from a sample size of 50 respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. Data was analyzed manually and entered in a computer using Microsoft Excel computer program to generate tables, pie charts, and bar graphs.

Results:

Most of the respondents were 58% females while the least were 42% males. 48% knew the correct definition of pharmacovigilance, 54% had ever heard about adverse drug reaction reporting, 78% thought ADR reporting is a professional obligation, 76% knew that National drug authority was the regulatory body responsible for monitoring ADRs, 44% had ever heard of a pharmacovigilance program in Uganda, 98% said pharmacovigilance should be taught in detail to health care professionals, 68% had ever experienced ADRs in their patients during their professional practice, 84% had never reported ADRS to the pharmacovigilance center, 78% had never been trained on how to report ADRs.

Conclusions:

Generally according to the findings, the respondents had some knowledge of pharmacovigilance and their attitudes toward reporting the ADRs encountered by patients were good however their practice was poor.

Recommendations:

The government, Ministry of Health, and the hospital administration should organize seminars to encourage ADR reporting and provide knowledge on ADRs, more researchers should carry out more research regarding the same topic to cover up the unfilled gaps, ADR reporting should be encouraged and promoted, especially through financial support.