Pharmacovigilance in Practice: Insights into Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated pharmacists' and pharmacy technicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting at a tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia. It also sought to identify the barriers to ADR reporting and propose strategies to improve pharmacovigilance practices. This study is timely given recent initiatives by the Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen medication safety practices nationwide.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. A structured, self-administered questionnaire collected data on participants' KAPs regarding pharmacovigilance. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted to identify the trends and associations between demographic variables and KAP scores.

FINDINGS

A total of 200 healthcare professionals participated in the study. While 87% of participants were aware of pharmacovigilance and 91% were familiar with ADRs, only 47.5% had ever reported an ADR. Positive attitudes were observed, with 94% agreeing that ADR reporting is an essential role of pharmacists and 90% supporting its inclusion in pharmacy curricula. However, key barriers to ADR reporting included lack of time (65%), insufficient training (58%), and uncertainty about reporting procedures (49%). Significant associations were found between knowledge levels, age, gender, and educational qualifications ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Despite high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes, ADR reporting practices remain suboptimal due to structural and procedural barriers. To enhance pharmacovigilance practices in Saudi Arabia, targeted training programs, simplified reporting systems, and mandatory reporting policies are recommended.