Frames of mind, practices and needs of the health professionals with regards to pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology

A descriptive study

Abstract

Introduction: with the development of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance, it became necessary to have a better knowledge about the physicians' interest in these fields in Colombia.

Objective: to describe the amount of interest, frames of mind and practices of a group of Colombian physicians with regards to both topics. The answers were provided via an internet poll.

Methods: a free-access poll located at web pages of ASCOFAME and www.encolombia.com, between July 2002 and February 2003.

Results: 145 professionals between 21 and 74 years of age were inquired, most of them were males and practicing in the big cities; 63.4% in levels II and III hospitals, with an average time after graduation of 9,2 years, many of them with good knowledge about INVIMA (88,3%) but in less proportion aware of pharmacovigilance or adverse drug reactions (ADR). 42,7% of them reporting to other professionals in the work places or to the pharmaceutical laboratories, in spite of the fact that only 21 % of the doctors never report suspected ADR's.

Conclusion: it is necessary to place emphasis on promotion, training or research activities related to topics such as the extent of influence of the pharmaceutical industry in our country, proportion of access and use of internet among physicians, as well as the amount and importance of ADR's reports.