Assessment of the knowledge and perceptions of the Malaysian community pharmacists regarding pharmacovigilance: findings from an interventional study
OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge and perception of community pharmacists in Malaysia toward reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). METHODS: A crosssectional study employing pre and post intervention design was undertaken with a sample of 42 community pharmacists to explore their knowledg...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Inc.
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/46508/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/46508/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/46508/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/46508/1/46508_-_Assessment.pdf |
| Summary: | OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge and perception of community pharmacists in
Malaysia toward reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). METHODS: A crosssectional
study employing pre and post intervention design was undertaken with a
sample
of 42 community pharmacists to explore their knowledge of and the perception
toward the pharmacovigilance and ADRs reporting. Changes in scores before and
after the completion training program in knowledge and perception were measured.
Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 17.0 software
package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were
used when ever appropriate. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the
respondents’ demographic information and professional characteristics. Wilcoxon
Signed ranks test, Paired sample t test and The McNemar χ
2
test were applied to
compare the differences in knowledge and perception before and after the educational
program whenever appropriate. RESULTS: Forty-two community pharmacists (CPs)
were enrolled in this study. A comparison of CPs knowledge before and immediately
after implementation the education program showed signifi cant differences, the participated
community pharmacists’ mean scores in knowledge of pharmacovigilance
and
adverse drug reactions reporting signifi
cantly
increased compared to the baseline
(z
= −5458, N = 42 P < 0.001). Following the intervention, only few (3, 7.2%)
respondents reported that they do not have any ideas on how to report ADR to the
relevant authorities in Malaysia. Upon completion of the education program, a large
proportion of the pharmacists (45%) believed that they were confi dent in their knowledge
in detection and performing ADRs reporting (z
= −2.866, N = 42, P = 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS: The fi nding of the study indicates the need for designing educational
programs for the community pharmacists, in order to improve the level of knowledge
toward the pharmacovigilance and ADRs reporting process locally. |
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