Indian Journal of Community Medicine (Apr 2024)
IJCM_245A: Beyond the Basics: Insights into Pharmacovigilance Literacy among Postgraduate Medical students: A Mixed-Methods study from central India.
Abstract
Background: Pharmacovigilance ensures medical intervention safety by detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse drug effects or related issues. As the guardians of patient well-being, healthcare professionals, particularly postgraduate medical students, are integral contributors to the pharmacovigilance landscape. Understanding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this domain is essential for fostering a culture of drug safety and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. The present study aspires to identify potential gaps in awareness, uncover barriers to active participation in pharmacovigilance activities, and, ultimately, offer insights that can inform targeted educational interventions. Objectives: To assess the knowledge levels of postgraduate medical students regarding pharmacovigilance, to examine their attitudes towards reporting adverse drug reactions, and explore the practical application of pharmacovigilance principles in their clinical practice. Additionally, the study aimed to identify potential barriers and facilitators influencing their engagement with pharmacovigilance activities. Methodology: This research adopted a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. In Qualitative phase the focused group discussion has been undertaken followed by developing the questionnaire which after validation was used for quantitative data collection. The study population comprised postgraduate medical students from the tertiary care institute of central India. Data analysis involved thematic analysis for qualitative data and statistical techniques for quantitative data. Results: It was observed that the knowledge of the participants regarding ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance was poor. Conclusion: Various barriers regarding ADR reporting were identified, and appropriate interventions were suggested by the participants.
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