Comparative study and assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among first, second and third professional medical students of PMCH, Dhanbad

Background: Pharmacovigilance awareness among medical students is very important for preventing ADR underreporting. Present study was conducted to know extent of Pharmacovigilance awareness among students and impact of Pharmacovigilance teaching.Methods: Questionnaire based study about KAP towards ADR and Pharmacovigilance was carried out at Patliputra Medical College, Dhanbad. Of 150 questionnaires distributed to first, second and third professional students, 106 were returned.Results: Pharmacovigilance Awareness was 20% in 1st, 91% in 2nd and 94% in 3rd Professional students. Only 10% of 1st, 82% of 2nd and 88% of 3rd Professional students knew about Pharmacovigilance and its purpose. Regarding International and National ADR monitoring body, only 7% of 1st, 50% of 2nd and 63% of 3rd professional students knew. Only 13% of 1st, 45% of 2nd and 56% of 3rd Professional students knew about local AMC. 40% of 1st, 86% of 2nd and 88% of 3rd professional students wanted detailed curricular teaching of Pharmacovigilance. 17% of 1st professional students had seen ADR, none (0%) had seen /reported ADR form. Of 2nd and 3rd professional students, 45% and 75% had seen ADR but only 34% and 56% had seen ADR form and 19% and 38% had reported ADR/seen ADR reporting.Conclusions: 2nd and 3rd professional students had better knowledge and attitude towards pharmacovigilance. As 1st professional students underwent pharmacovigilance teaching, their KAP improved significantly. There existed huge gap between ADR experienced and ADR reporting by all medical students