Assessing awareness, attitude, and practices towards spontaneous reporting of adverse drug events together with its perceived barriers among clients attending community pharmacies in Dar es salaam

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs) represent a pressing public health concern, necessitating vigilant surveillance for timely identification and prevention. Spontaneous reporting, a vital aspect of ADEs monitoring, remains insufficiently explored, particularly among patients attended at the community pharmacies. ADEs reporting within community pharmacies is crucial in improving medication safety and patient care. Aim: The primary objective is to assess the levels of awareness, attitude, and practice concerning the spontaneous reporting of ADEs among patients attending community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacy patients to assess their awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding spontaneous ADE reporting. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data on ADE awareness, pharmacovigilance, experiences with adverse drug events, and reporting behaviors. Perceived barriers to reporting were also identified. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data, highlighting key trends and gaps. Results: The study found that 49% of participants were aware of adverse drug events (ADEs), primarily through social media, while only 12% had heard of pharmacovigilance. Among the patients, 19% had experienced an Adverse Drug Event (ADR), with 71% of these cases being reported, mainly to pharmacists. A significant majority (96%) acknowledged the importance of ADE reporting, reflecting a positive attitude. Common barriers to reporting included a lack of knowledge on ADE recognition and reporting procedures. Conclusion: This study reveals significant gaps in awareness and practices regarding ADE reporting among community pharmacy patients. Major barriers include a lack of awareness and insufficient knowledge about reporting procedures. Despite positive attitudes towards ADE reporting, practical barriers such as reporting complexity and confidentiality concerns hinder participation. Enhancing patient education, simplifying reporting processes, and ensuring confidentiality are crucial to improve ADE reporting practices and patient safety.