Adverse drug reaction monitoring: knowledge, attitude and practices of medical students and prescribers.

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute to excessive health care costs through increased patient morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is an urgent need to create awareness among physicians towards ADR monitoring. The present study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of fifth semester undergraduate students and prescribers (interns, junior residents and senior residents) towards the recording and reporting of ADRs.

METHODS: The fifth semester MB,BS undergraduate students (n=107) and prescribers (n=l 17) working in different disciplines of Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated hospitals were given a questionnaire to answer. The responses of the undergraduate students were compared with those of prescribers.

RESULTS: Knowledge about definition, classification, objectives and methods of ADR monitoring was found to be comparable in both groups. Spontaneous and intensive methods of ADR monitoring were known to the majority of participants of both groups. Attitude and practices of the prescribers were significantly (p<0.01 ) better with regard to the status of ADR monitoring in the institute. A significantly higher (p<0.001) proportion of prescribers (82%) as compared to the undergraduate students (64.5%), felt that ADRs should be reported both when it causes inconvenience to the patient as well as death. ADRs were encountered by both undergraduates (46%) and prescribers (66%) during their clinical project exercises and patient care, respectively. Commonly encountered ADRs were allergic reactions, symptoms of upper gastrointestinal irritation, extrapyramidal symptoms and hepatitis. The common offending groups of drugs causing these ADRs were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidopaminergics and chemotherapeutic agents. A majority of ADRs were suspected and subsided on their own by either stopping the drug or reducing its dose.

CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge, attitude and practices of both undergraduates and prescribers were comparable but need further improvement. This suggests the need for suitable changes in the undergraduate teaching curriculum. Further, the prescribers also need periodic reinforcement regardingADR monitoring.