J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2015;12:28. 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.28.

Comparison of the knowledge, attitudes, and perception of barriers regarding adverse drug reaction reporting between pharmacy and medical students in Pakistan

• Umair Khan M
• Ahmad A
• Ejaz A
• Rizvi SA
• Sardar A
• Hussain K
• Zaffar T
• Jamshed SQ

• KMID: 2402035
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.28

Abstract

PURPOSE
The goal of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacy and medical students regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs), as well as their perceptions of barriers to ADR reporting, in a Higher Education Commission-recognised Pakistani university.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year pharmacy (n=91) and medical (n=108) students in Pakistan from June 1 to July 31, 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The responses of pharmacy students were compared to those of medical students.
RESULTS
Pharmacy students had a significantly better knowledge of ADRs than medical students (mean+/-SD, 5.61+/-1.78 vs. 3.23+/-1.60; P<0.001). Gender showed a significant relationship to knowledge about ADRs, and male participants were apparently more knowledgeable than their female counterparts (P<0.001). The attitudes of pharmacy students regarding their capability to handle and report ADRs were significantly more positive than those of medical students (P<0.05). In comparison to pharmacy students, a lack of knowledge of where and how to report ADRs was the main barrier that medical students perceived to ADR reporting (P=0.001).
CONCLUSION
Final-year pharmacy students exhibited more knowledge about ADRs and showed more positive attitudes regarding their capacity to handle and report ADRs than final-year medical students.

Keyword

Pharmacy; Medical; Students; Pharmacovigilance; Pakistan; Comparison

MeSH Terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
Education
Female
Humans
Male
Pakistan*
Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacy*
Students, Medical*
Students, Pharmacy

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Pharmacy and medical students’ main sources of information about adverse drug reactions.

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  Fig. 2. The purposes of reporting ADRs cited by pharmacy and medical students. ADR, adverse drug reaction.

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