Pharmacovigilance in focus: a study on pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Saudi Arabia
摘要
Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a cornerstone of successful pharmacovigilance programs. Pharmacy students must acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to these systems.
AimThis study aimed to evaluate pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding pharmacovigilance in Saudi Arabia.
MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a validated, self-administered questionnaire. The survey comprised four domains: demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pharmacovigilance. Participants included fourth- and fifth-year pharmacy students and interns from King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. A pilot test was conducted, and internal reliability was confirmed (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.844).
ResultsOf 359 invited students, 329 responded (91.3% response rate). Knowledge scores increased with academic level: Level 7 (6.07), Level 8 (5.37), Level 9 (6.38), Level 10 (6.19), and interns (6.42). Attitude scores ranged from 4.16 in Level 8 students to 5.62 in Level 9 students, with practice scores remaining low across all levels, reflecting limited educational exposure to ADR reporting. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant differences in knowledge and attitude scores (p = 0.042 and p < 0.001, respectively), but not in practice (p = 0.305).
ConclusionThe findings emphasize the need to enhance pharmacovigilance education through workshops, dedicated modules, and clinical ADR reporting exercises to improve students' preparedness in ensuring medication safety.