DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i01.0084

Pages: 399-403

The study was aimed at investigating knowledge, attitude and practice of clinicians towards ADR reporting, to identify the reasons for underreporting and suggestions to improve the ADR reporting system. A questionnaire study involving the clinicians in the teaching hospital of south Karnataka was conducted. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed to the clinicians with their consent for the participation in the study and completed questionnaire were received back within stipulated time. 120 respondents filled and retuned the questionnaires giving a response rate of 80%. Nearly half of the respondents (48.33%) were aware of the existence of pharmacovigilance (PV) and its programme in India. The ADR reporting form was known to only 12.5% and existence of PV unit in their hospital to 15% of respondents respectively. More than 77% have experienced an episode of ADR but only 15% of them had reported. More than 80% of them commented on inadequacy of ADR reporting in India. Only 2.5% have attended the training programmes in ADR reporting. Commonest factors discouraging ADR reporting were, not knowing where (87.5%), how (82.5%) to report ADR and lack of accessibility of ADR reporting forms (83.3%). The most common suggestions to improve ADR reporting were to make it mandatory, training and bulletins on ADR reporting. This study revealed poor knowledge, practice and underreporting of ADRs among clinicians and the willingness of clinicians to be trained in ADR reporting to contribute the pharmacovigilance efficiently.