title: [Pharmacovigilance among dentists: a survey of practitioners in Dakar, Senegal].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since 1968, the World Health Organization has used an international pharmacovigilance programme to monitor and examine the effects of drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward pharmacovigilance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The paper presents the results of a cross-sectional descriptive study of 103 dentists in Senegal, based on an exhaustive selection process. Data were collected on the dentists' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and attitudes toward pharmacovigilance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 50% of the sample were general practitioners. The average number of years of professional experience was 9 years. Painkillers (41.9%) were the most widely prescribed drugs, followed by antibiotics, which were particularly involved in the onset of adverse effects (41.8%). Adverse effects were observed by just 3.8% of the sample. Almost 90% of the participants were not aware of the existing pharmacovigilance system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that pharmacovigilance training and education sessions for dentists are needed to improve their knowledge of pharmacovigilance and to foster positive attitudes toward adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Service de santé publique, Département d'Odontologie, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal. dioufmass78@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Massamba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diouf
authors.forename: Salimata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodian
authors.forename: Cheikh Mouhamadou Mbacké
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cisse
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: Babacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Touré
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060735:Pharmacovigilance; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012675:Senegal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires