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EVALUATION OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE AWARENESS, ATTITUDES, AND REPORTING PRACTICES OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES – AN ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE

ANUSH BARSEGH BARSEGHYAN 1*, HELLEN YAYRA DZOAGBE 2, LUSINE GAGIK NAZARYAN 1, MARTA HEKTOR SIMONYAN 1

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Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent a significant global health issue, imposing serious risks to patient safety and incurring substantial healthcare costs. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in Armenia regarding pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting, identifying barriers and gaps to improve ADR management within community pharmacies. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 590 community pharmacists selected using a random sampling technique. A validated questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pharmacovigilance. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0. The majority of respondents were aged 26-30 years (60.7%) and predominantly female (89.7%). Knowledge regarding pharmacovigilance was insufficient, with 71.4% of participants unfamiliar with its concepts. Only 9.3% consistently reported ADRs, reflecting significant gaps in practice. While most recognized the importance of pharmacovigilance in drug safety, confidence in their reporting abilities was low, with 78.3% not believing pharmacists should encourage patient reporting of ADRs. Challenges such as lack of knowledge, time constraints, and perceived inefficiencies in the reporting system were prevalent. The findings highlight critical deficiencies in knowledge and practice among community pharmacists concerning ADR reporting. Targeted educational programs and resources, such as training workshops and informative booklets, are essential to enhance pharmacists' engagement in pharmacovigilance efforts, ultimately improving drug safety and patient care.