Abstract

Background: National Pharmacovigilance (PV) program is an ongoing program to monitor the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and reporting at the earliest. ADRs reporting by physicians, consultants are very less leading to various problems. As postgraduate students are future physicians and consultants, this study was undertaken with following objectives.

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the knowledge about ADRs, PV, and to know the attitude about ADR reporting-in postgraduate students.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted after approval by our institutional ethics committee pretested and validated questions consisting of 20 questions (knowledge, attitude, and perception) were administrated to postgraduate students. The filled questionnaires were collected and analyzed.

Results: In our study, postgraduates from all branches had fair enough idea about ADR and PV. In knowledge domain, postgraduate students were aware of term ADRs (100%), PV (89.6%). In attitude domain majority of students (87.9%) know the availability of ADR forms, compulsory of PV unit (96.5%). In perception domain very poor response (23.3%) had reported ADR filled form till duration of study. About 89.7% of them knew the meaning of re-challenge and de-challenge, and majority of students (98.3%) also know how to manage the ADRs in emergency conditions.

Conclusions: Under reporting problem can be improved by doing more sensitizing activities at UG and PG level including various workshops, CMEs, and problem based teaching. These exercises will improve their reporting frequency and sensitize them from the postgraduate days itself in their upcoming clinical practice in community to avoid drug related complications.

Key words: Pharmacovigilance; Adverse Drug Reactions; Postgraduates; Knowledge