Background: Pharmacovigilance has constantly gained importance in last 15 years, relating to absolute the amount of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and to the fact that several hospital admissions are due to ADRs. The success of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PVPI) depends on the active involvement of not only the health-care professionals, such as allopathic doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists but also on those doctors who practice alternative systems of medicine.
Aims and Objective: To assess the awareness and perception of pharmacovigilance among doctors practicing alternative systems of medicine in Tumkur, Southern India.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among doctors practicing alternative systems of medicine in Tumkur, Southern India, using a validated questionnaire suitable for assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance was designed and distributed to the private practitioners.
Results: Of 120 doctors who answered the questions, 28.3% reported to have heard the name pharmacovigilance, 14.2% doctors answered that drugs used in alternative systems of medicine cause ADRs whereas 85.8% said they do not. Only 12.5% thought that reporting an ADR with Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs is necessary and 9.2% had encountered an ADR with ASU drugs. Only 6.7% have been trained on how to report ADRs, whereas only 1 (0.8%) doctor had reported ADRs.
Conclusion: Knowledge of doctors practicing alternative systems of medicine regarding pharmacovigilance is poor as well as their attitude and practice toward it. Sincere efforts should be made to include them under PvPI and to train through continued medical education programs as well as workshops on PvPI.
Key words: Pharmacovigilance; Adverse Drug Reactions; Pharmacovigilance Programme of India; Alternative Systems of Medicine
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