Knowledge and reporting of adverse drug reactions among patent medicine vendors in Ibadan South west local government area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Detection and spontaneous reporting of ADRs by private providers, in which patent medicine vendors can be categorized, could reduce their consequences. Little is known about the knowledge and reporting of ADRs among private health care professionals in Oyo State, Nigeria. This study was designed to assess the level of knowledge and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among patent medicine vendors (PMVs) in Ibadan South West LGA, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. All available PMVs (128) who consented to participate were enrolled in the study and completed a 29- item validated questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, ADRs knowledge, experiences and ADRs practices. Knowledge of the respondents to ADRs was measured on a 13-point scale, while practice was measured on a 5 point scale. Knowledge scores of <6 and >7 were classified as poor and good respectively. Practice scores of < 2 and > 3 were classified as poor and good respectively.

Results: A majority of PMVs were knowledgeable of causes (84.4%) and the risk factors (85.2%) of ADRs; some of which included patient sensitivity to a drug (77.6%), drug-drug reaction (86.1%) and patient using alcohol to swallow medication (91.1%). Familiarity with the ADR reporting process was low as most (75.1%) PMVs claimed not to have encountered ADRs. Of the 21.0 % PMVs who reportedly encountered ADR four weeks preceding the survey, only 2.7% ever reported. Major reasons for underreporting of ADRs were not knowing where to report (56.8%), insufficient knowledge (32.2%) and ADR reporting being a time-wasting activity (25.4%). While few PMVs (29.0%) reported to have been trained on reporting ADRs, the respondents who had received training reported to have been trained through NAFDAC (30.6%), UCH (14.3%) and NDLEA (20.4%)

Conclusion: Patent medicine vendors on the average are knowledgeable of adverse drug reactions but not on the reporting process. Improving knowledge - practice gap will require educational interventions in form of formal training and seminars.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, knowledge, reporting, patent medicine vendors

Abstrait

Contexte: Les effets indésirables des médicaments (EIM) sont l’une des principales causes de morbidité et de mortalité. La détection et la notification spontanée des effets indésirables par des prestataires privés, dans lesquels les fournisseurs de médicaments brevetés peuvent être classés, pourraient réduire leurs conséquences. On sait peu de choses sur la connaissance et le signalement des effets indésirables parmi les professionnels de la santé privés de l’État d’Oyo, au Nigéria. Cette étude a été conçue pour évaluer le niveau de connaissance et de déclaration des effets indésirables des médicaments (EIM) chez les vendeurs de médicaments brevetés (VMB) à Ibadan South West LGA, Etat d’Oyo, Nigeria.

Méthodes: La conception de l’étude était descriptive et transversale. Tous les VMB disponibles (128) qui ont consenti à participer ont été inscrits à l’étude et ont rempli un questionnaire validé de 29 éléments sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les connaissances, les expériences et les pratiques en matière de EIM. La connaissance des répondants aux EIM a été mesurée sur une échelle de 13 points, tandis que la pratique a été mesurée sur une échelle de 5 points. Les scores de connaissance < 6 et> 7 ont été classés respectivement comme mauvais et bon. Les scores de pratique < 2 et> 3 ont été classés respectivement mauvais et bon.

Résultats: La majorité des VMB connaissaient les causes (84,4%) et les facteurs de risque (85,2%) des EIM; certains d’entre eux comprenaient la sensibilité des patients à un médicament (77,6%), la réaction médicamenteuse (86,1%) et les patients consommant de l’alcool pour avaler des médicaments (91,1%). La familiarité avec le processus de déclaration des EIM était faible, car la plupart (75,1%) des VMB affirmaient ne pas avoir rencontré d’EIM. Sur les 21,0% de VMB qui auraient rencontré un EIM quatre semaines avant l’enquête, seulement 2,7% l’ont signalé. Les principales raisons de la sous-déclaration des EIM étaient de ne pas savoir où déclarer (56,8%), les connaissances insuffisantes (32,2%) et la déclaration d’EIM à être une activité de perte de temps (25,4%). Tandis que peu de VMB (29,0%) ont déclaré avoir été formés à la déclaration des EIM, les répondants qui avaient reçu une formation ont déclaré avoir été formés par le NAFDAC (30,6%), UCH (14,3%) et NDLEA (20,4%)

Conclusion: En moyenne, les vendeurs de médicaments brevetés connaissent les effets indésirables des médicaments, mais pas le processus de déclaration. L’amélioration du fossé entre les connaissances et les pratiques nécessitera des interventions éducatives sous forme de formation formelle et de séminaires. Mots-clés : Effets indésirables des médicaments, connaissances, rapports, vendeurs de médicaments brevets

Correspondence: Miss Folorunso M. Atolagbe, Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: atolagbefolor@gmail.com

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