Abstract
The aim was to evaluate healthcare professionals (HCP) knowledge, practice, experiences, encouraging factors and barriers to adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among a convenient sample of doctors, pharmacists and nurses from Khartoum state, Sudan. A previously validated questionnaire was used. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Software for Windows, (version 20.0). The study was approved by the Ethical committee of the Khartoum State Ministry of Health. A total of 300 HCPs were invited to participate in the study of whom 58% responded. The mean age of the participants was 27.74 +/- 4.89 (range 20 -47). Hospital and community pharmacists represented the highest percentage of respondents (34.4%) followed by physicians (27.6%) and nurses (27%). More than half (65.5%) of the participants correctly identified the WHO definition of ADRs. Only 19.5% of the participants declared that they were familiar with ADRs reporting. The National Medicines and Poisons Board (NMPB) was identified as the regulatory body responsible for ADRs reporting by 11.5%. Only 26.4% were familiar with the correct meaning of ADRs reporting (online and paper forms). Lack of knowledge about ADRs reporting was evident in 88.5% of the participants. Only 23% of the respondents have reported ADRs. Only 25.9% of the participants had responsible practice towards ADRs reporting. Increasing awareness was the most commonly identified facilitator to ADRs reporting (79.6%). Unavailability of ADRs reporting forms in the pharmacy, hospitals, and clinics was the main barrier to ADRs reporting 49.1%. Our study results urge the implementation of a massive pharmacovigilance program to monitor and advocate for ADRs detection and reporting among HCPs.