Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting in Public Hospitals in Lesotho DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajhs.v38i2.10

Abstract

Background: The success of the global National Pharmacovigilance to monitor adverse drug reactions relies on the health professionals' voluntary reporting of adverse drug reactions. Underreporting of adverse drug reactions by healthcare professionals in public hospitals in Lesotho remains a serious challenge. The study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals towards pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reaction reporting (ADRs) in government hospitals in Lesotho.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted across six government hospitals in the lowlands of Lesotho. Using stratified sampling, 106 KAP questionnaires were distributed between August and November 2023 and January 2024 among available healthcare professionals who were conveniently accessible. Data were analysed descriptively with the inferential statistics performed with the Chi-square test performed to assess the association between categorical data (nominal data) and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 20.

Results: There were 63 healthcare professionals who responded (59.4 % response rate). Participants were predominantly females (58.7%), while males were 41.3%. The predominant age group was 30-39 years (69.8 %). The majority of the HCPs (39.7 %) had more than 10 years of practical experience, and 90.5 % demonstrated awareness about pharmacovigilance (PV). Despite the HCPs showed a generally positive attitude towards adverse drug reaction, 69.8 % (n =44, p = 0.009) did not received basic training in ADR reporting, and 46.0% (n = 29, p = 0.514 encountered an ADR and did not report it. Half of HCPs (52.4%, n = 33, p = 0.048) did not submitted sufficient ADR reports Moreover, 84.1 % (n = 53, p =0.038) expressed willingness to receive more training on ADR reporting.

Conclusion: ADR reporting in six public hospitals in Lesotho remains inadequate despite a higher awareness and positive attitude. Lack of access to ADR reporting forms and training on PV and ADR reporting significantly hinders ADR reporting practices. The findings highlighted significant gap between knowledge and practices which requires intervention to promote ADR reporting.

Recommendation: PV and ADR reporting awareness campaigns and continuous training may address these challenges. Strengthen the dissemination of the ADR reporting tools among the within the health care facilities.