Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Professionals at Selected Public Hospitals Regarding Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and Related Factors

Abstract

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a significant public health concern, causing morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and even death. Despite the critical importance of reporting ADRs for patient safety and pharmacovigilance, healthcare professionals (HCPs) often underreport these events due to insufficient knowledge, lack of proper training, and various logistical barriers. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of HCPs regarding ADR reporting in selected public hospitals.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, pharmacists, midwives, and health officers, at two public hospitals . A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ADR reporting. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression, were performed using SPSS version 20.
Results: Out of 150 distributed questionnaires, (95%) were completed. The majority of respondents (87.7%) acknowledged that ADR reporting was their professional responsibility, and 76.3% supported making ADR reporting mandatory. However, only 29.8% of participants reported encountering at least one ADR in the past year, with just 50% of those documenting and reporting it. Barriers to ADR reporting included a lack of feedback (58.8%), unavailable reporting forms (46.4%), and uncertainty regarding the ADR’s causal relationship with the drug (35.9%).
Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes toward ADR reporting, healthcare professionals demonstrated insufficient knowledge and practices related to ADR reporting. Key barriers such as lack of training, feedback, and available reporting forms contribute to underreporting. Addressing these barriers through targeted training, improved reporting systems, and regular feedback is essential for enhancing ADR reporting, ultimately improving patient safety and healthcare quality.