Drug Safety and Adverse Reaction Reporting: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Nurses’ Awareness and Barriers

Abstract

Drug is a chemical substance that brings a change in the physiological and psychological functioning of an organism when consumed. Drug safety is also referred to as pharmacovigilance, is a critical pre-clinical step in the drug development process. To assess the level of knowledge and awareness among nurses regarding drug safety and adverse reaction reporting. An analytical cross-sectional study was used; data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage and chi square test. Most participants were female (71.5%). The largest age group was 18-28 years (75.2%). A majority were single (70.3%) and held a diploma in nursing (56.4%). A significant 62.4% demonstrated poor knowledge, 20% had average knowledge, and 17.6% had good knowledge. The primary purpose of drug safety was identifying drug safety (55.2%), followed by recognizing unrecognized ADRs (27.3%). A large majority (95.8%) knew how to report ADRs, 70.3% had encountered ADRs, and 99.4% believed ADR reporting was necessary. This study highlights the demographic profile, clinical experience, and knowledge levels of nurses regarding drug safety and ADR reporting. Despite recognizing the importance of ADR reporting, 62.4% showed poor knowledge, potentially affecting accurate identification and reporting. While 70.3% had encountered ADRs, exposure varied based on clinical settings. The findings stress the need for targeted education, institutional support, and ongoing pharmacovigilance training to improve ADR monitoring and reporting.