European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AWARENESS OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE AMONG DENTAL INTERNS IN A SOUTHERN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Madhavrao C* and Mythili Bai K

ABSTRACT

Aim and objectives: This research work was done to evaluate the awareness about Pharmacovigilance among dental interns in a teaching tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: The study was cross sectional in nature and the data was collected during the period of January 2014 to March 2015. The study subjects were dental interns [n=40], who were enrolled into the study after thoroughly explaining about the study nature and getting valid written informed consent from individual participants. The data was expressed in frequency and percentage. Results: This study showed that, more than half of the study participants do not know the definition of Pharmacovigilance [52.5%], who [55%] and to whom [67.5%] can report the ADRs. Regarding the attitude towards Pharmacovigilance, 52.5% opined the answers „don‟t know‟, „yes‟ 15%, „no‟ 12.5% and „perhaps‟ 20% regarding the question of professional obligation for ADR reporting. The study also showed that only 15% of study participants were reported ADRs during their professional period. Among the study participants, 77.5% never had been exposed to any kind of training on how to report ADRs. In this study, 28% of study participants were unaware about the existence of ADR monitoring centre in their own institution. Majority of study participants opined regarding the factor which encourages the reporting of ADR was increasing the awareness about Pharmacovigilance through training/projects/CME and factor which discourages was lack of knowledge about ADRs. Conclusion: There is underreporting and lack of knowledge about the importance of Pharmacovigilance programme among dental interns and which need to be improved through various educational programmes and conducting symposia/CME.

Keywords: ADR, Pharmacovigilance, Dental, Interns, Tertiary Care Hospital.