ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE REGARDING ADVERSE DRUG REACTION REPORTING AMONG DENTAL PROFESSIONALS: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED SURVEY

Abstract

Background:ADRs are major contributor to morbidity in clinical practice and pharmacovigilance plays vital role in their detection and prevention. A lot of medicines are routinely used in dentistry, including analgesics and antibiotics, and it is important that patients are aware of ADR and that reports are made to ensure patient safety. Methods:The study was of the cross-sectional type in which  questionnaire was used with 98 clinically exposed dental undergraduates and postgraduates. The knowledge, attitude and practice regarding ADR reporting and Pharmacovigilance was evaluated using structured 10 item questionnaire. Results:The majority of the participants were undergraduates (61.2%) and females (79.6%). Of the individuals who were able to correctly identify ADRs, 55.1% said they did not know about reporting systems, which was described as the biggest barrier by 90.8% of people. Overall, 91.8% highlighted the need for collective involvement of health care professionals in pharmacovigilance. Conclusion:The study suggests that there is a moderate awareness among dental students regarding reporting of ADR and their knowledge of ADR systems is lacking. Enhancing Pharmacovigilance education and training is crucial for enhancing ADR reporting and patient safety.