Temitope Oyeneye
Drug Consult Pharmacy, Nigeria
Title: Adverse drug reaction: Knowledge and practice of pharmacovigilance by healthcare providers in tertiary institutions in Lagos
Biography
Biography: Temitope Oyeneye
Abstract
The future of achievable pharmacovigilance depends solemnly on spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR). ADR reporting with yellow cards has tremendously improved pharmacovigilance of drugs in many developed countries and its use is advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). ADR reporting among health care workers in Nigerian tertiary institutions is at a very low practice. A total of 180 questionnaires were distributed to different healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in three tertiary hospitals: The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba and; National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi all in Lagos Nigeria. The questionnaire sought the demographics of the HCPs, their knowledge and education on pharmacovigilance, practice and attitude to pharmacovigilance, the factors that they perceived may influence pharmacovigilance practice and suggestions on the possible ways to improve ADR reporting. The result gave 95.6% response rate. A majority of the respondents showed an appreciable knowledge of PV. Education and training was the most recognized means of improving ADR reporting. In conclusion, pharmacovigilance practice among the Nigerian health care professional proves to be inefficient and lack a proper data base documentation. Though, there has been a slight improvement when compared to previous studies, social workers and all sectors of the health care system needs to be involved. Government needs to include private hospitals, retails dispensaries, providers and traditional medicine. More awareness should be created on the yellow card reporting scheme. Social workers and continuous education, training and integration of ADR reporting into hospital activities would likely improve reporting and PV practice in general.