title: The knowledge, attitude and behaviours of nurses about pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction and adverse event reporting in a state hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the use of any drug comes the possibility of unintended consequences which when harmful are referred to as adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The development of national pharmacovigilance systems is the responsibility of all health workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of nurses about pharmacovigilance and attitudes about ADR and adverse event reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive-cross sectional study was performed in 112 nurses working in a public hospital. The questionnaire was applied about pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions. The knowledge, attitudes and practices about adverse drug reactions were asked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 74.1% of the nurses definition of "severe adverse effect" of drug therapy. The ratio of participants who knew that ADRs are reported to contact person responsible from pharmacovigilance was 34.9%. Although 70.5% of nurses knew the necessity of ADR reporting, the 8% of the nurses knew Turkish Pharmacovigilance Center (TÜFAM). Only 8% of nurses reported ADRs in their professionality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most of the participants knew the importance of ADR event reporting, event reporting was low. Thiese results showed that there is a lack of knowledge about pharmacovigilance. Futher studies with different settings and healthcare staff are needed to improve awareness about pharmacovigilance.
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fisun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.affiliation: Golcuk Necati Celik State Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Birol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vural
keywords: Drug reactions; drug safety; pharmacovigilance