Assessment of pharmacovigilance knowledge and ADR reporting skills in undergraduate medical students using the OSPA model

Background

Pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting are essential components of ensuring medication safety. However, many healthcare students have limited knowledge in these areas. This study evaluates the pharmacovigilance knowledge and ADR reporting skills among undergraduate medical and nursing students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar, with 190 undergraduate healthcare students. Participants completed a validated structured questionnaire assessing their pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting knowledge. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with descriptive statistics to present the results.

Results

The findings revealed that 35 % of students had limited knowledge of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting, while 52 % demonstrated a moderate level of understanding. A majority were aware of the importance of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting, although they faced challenges in completing ADR reports accurately.

Conclusions

Although students exhibited a basic understanding of pharmacovigilance, significant gaps were found in their ability to effectively report ADRs. These findings underscore the need for enhanced pharmacovigilance education within healthcare curricula, ensuring students are adequately prepared to apply their knowledge in clinical settings.