Preventing Adverse Effects of Medicines: A Knowledge Attitude and Practice Study of Leaders in the Nigerian Public Health Supply Chain

Abstract

Pharmacovigilance is defined as ‘‘the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem.” This study examined the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance by leaders in the public health pharmaceutical supply chain management in Nigeria. The key practice approach of pharmacovigilance involves spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions and ensuring continuous post-marketing surveillance of the quality and safety of medicines. The success of pharmacovigilance depends on the awareness, attitude, and voluntary participation of healthcare personnel, patients, and institutions. A cross-sectional approach was used in the survey of 209 leaders of selected public health organisations. Purposive sampling technique was used to administer validated semi-structured questionnaire. Questions were drawn from the Nigerian national pharmacovigilance policy. A 55% response  rate was received as feedback. Among the responders, medical doctors and medical laboratory scientists had better knowledge and practice of pharmacovigilance than pharmacists. Factors associated with practice of pharmacovigilance include awareness of the pharmacovigilance policy (OR = 1.90; P = .11), training provided by respondents' organisations (OR = 1.34; P = .48), respondents' organisation receiving periodic updates from the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (OR = 1.11; P = .85) and respondents independently receiving periodic updates (OR = .83; P = .73). In conclusion, the study suggests that monitoring the safety and quality of medicines in the public health space of Nigeria could improve through increased awareness of the national pharmacovigilance policy, training in pharmacovigilance, and periodic safety communications by the national pharmacovigilance centre.