title: Non-medical prescribers and pharmacovigilance: participation, competence and future needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine UK non-medical prescribers' (NMPs) (supplementary or independent) current participation and self-reported competence in pharmacovigilance, and their perceptions of training and future needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-medical prescribers in health care in the United Kingdom. Awareness of and participation in the Yellow Card Scheme (YCS); attitudes towards ADR reporting; strategies to encourage reporting; pharmacovigilance training; and demographics. The sample comprised nurse (n = 912) and pharmacist (n = 2,439) NMPs in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported competence in pharmacovigilance, knowledge of and participation in the YCS, attitudes towards ADR reporting; strategies to encourage ADR reporting; pharmacovigilance training during NMP training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and thirteen responses were received giving an overall response rate of 20.4 %. Response rates for nurse and pharmacist prescribers were 32.2 % (n = 293) and 13.1 % (n = 320) respectively. Three hundred and fifty-nine respondents (58.6 %) had submitted a Yellow Card. Although the majority of respondents (70.4 %) felt competent in pharmacovigilance, a third (34.2 %) said they needed further training. Respondents reported a positive attitude towards ADR reporting, yet only a minority (22.9 %) correctly answered factual questions about the YCS. Approximately a third of respondents (35.6 %) "couldn't remember" if pharmacovigilance was covered in their prescribing training. Publicity and education were commonly suggested measures to enhance contribution to the YCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While NMPs report participation and competence in ADR reporting, there are several key issues to consider including the need for further training and support to optimise their role in pharmacovigilance.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, AB10 1FR, Aberdeen, UK. d.stewart@rgu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacLure
authors.forename: Vibhu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paudyal
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courtenay
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D060735:Pharmacovigilance; D024382:Professional Role; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations