Assessing the knowledge and practice of the Irish Community Pharmacists in reporting Adverse Drug Reactions and Falsified Medicines

Background: Pharmacovigilance is a critical aspect of healthcare, enabling the monitoring of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), eradication of falsified medicines (FMs), identification of medication errors, monitoring off-license drug use, addressing abuse and misuse, assessing lack of efficacy, tracking poisoning incidents, managing drug-drug/food interactions, ensuring the destruction of expired stock, and evaluating drug-related mortality. It is essential for healthcare professionals to be aware of their role in Pharmacovigilance. Objective: This study aims to assess the current knowledge and reporting practices of ADRs and FMs among community pharmacists in Ireland, focusing on two important components of Pharmacovigilance. Method: The research employed a cross-sectional, observational design, utilizing an online questionnaire survey to gain insights into the pharmacists' knowledge and practices related to Pharmacovigilance programs, ADR reporting, FMs, and their opinions on their role in these areas. Results: The study found that Irish colleges and universities played a significant role in providing Pharmacovigilance education to pharmacy students. The majority of pharmacists demonstrated a good understanding of Pharmacovigilance, but only a third of them were aware of Irish legislation in this regard. Additionally, only 20.23% of pharmacists believed that Irish patients were aware of ADR reporting, although 92.49% were familiar with the Health Products Regulatory Authority's (HPRA) ADR reporting system. The findings suggest the need for pharmacists to educate their patients about ADR reporting, while recognizing the convenience of the HPRA reporting system. Conclusion: Overall, the study revealed that most community pharmacists possess a solid understanding of the fundamental aspects of Pharmacovigilance, including ADRs and FMs. However, there are areas for improvement, such as raising awareness among patients about ADR reporting. The findings highlight the importance of continuous education and communication to enhance Pharmacovigilance practices among community pharmacists in Ireland.