Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: August | Volume: 8 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 141-150
Awareness Implications on Adverse Drug Reactions: Findings from A Cross-Sectional Study among Outpatients Attending a Public Hospital in Malaysia
Shamini Chanmal Anantham1, Yee Yin Seow2, Muhamad Faiz Zakaria2, Nadzirah Yusof3, GuiZhi Tan4, Monica Danial5*
1Pharmacist, Pharmacy Department, Penang General Hospital, 10990 Jalan Residensi, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia,
2Pharmacist, Cawangan PenguatkuasaFarmasi, BahagianPerkhidmatanFarmasi, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
3Pharmacist, Pharmacy Department, Hospital Tanah Merah, 17500 Kelantan DarulNaim, Malaysia
4Pharmacist, Klinik Kesihatan Telupid, Peti Surat 11, 89300 Telupid, Sabah, Malaysia
5Research Officer, Clinical Research Center (CRC) Penang General Hospital, 10450 Jalan Residensi, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Corresponding Author: Monica Danial
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a growing concern worldwide as the risk of the ADR is underrated. Spontaneous or voluntary reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) provides input for medication without harm initiatives as to reduce medication related adversities.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge, beliefs, and behaviour of outpatients and its association in addressing adverse drug reactions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among voluntary participation of 400 outpatients attending Penang General Hospital, Malaysia. The targeted respondents were long-term medications dependant, whom was waiting for their prescriptions at the department of pharmacy.
Results: There was a significant difference between knowledge and attitude in addressing ADRs (p<0.05) among the respondents. Respondents agreed that western medicine solely causes side effects (84.5%). In addition, doctors and pharmacist (95.5% and 94.0%, respectively) needed to inform patients about possible side effects of the prescribed medicine. Majority of respondents would inform their physician if they were consuming traditional medications (70.8%) and were using non-prescribed medicines bought at pharmacy (78.3%) at the same time the Western medicines prescribed. However, only a lesser percentage of the respondents would seek information about the side effects of the medicine before taking those (56.5%). Overall, the majority have indicated that medicines’ side effects can be prevented (p<0.05).
Conclusion: There is a general misconception in addition to low levels of awareness and understanding among the public toward ADRs. It is anticipated that this study would be useful in designing public educational interventions to enhance the identification and reporting of ADRs.
Key words: Adverse Drug Reactions; Pharmacovigilance; Knowledge; Beliefs; Attitude.