Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and Pharmacovigilance in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Medications are central to modern healthcare delivery; however, their use is frequently associated with Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), which contribute substantially to patient harm, increased healthcare utilization and economic burden [1]. Pharmacovigilance and systematic ADR reporting are therefore essential components of medication safety, enabling the detection of safety signals and supporting evidence-based regulatory and clinical decision-making [2,3]. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) emphasizes that medicine safety monitoring is an integral part of routine clinical practice, underscoring the responsibility of healthcare professionals to contribute to pharmacovigilance activities [4].

Pharmacists, particularly those working in hospital settings, are well positioned to identify suspected ADRs due to their involvement in medication review, monitoring and patient counseling. Clinical pharmacists, in particular, are frequently engaged in therapy optimization, assessment of drug-drug interactions and evaluation of treatment-related harm, placing them at the interface between prescribing decisions and patient outcomes [5]. Nevertheless, ADR reporting is not limited to clinical pharmacists alone and effective pharmacovigilance systems depend on contributions from pharmacists across different professional roles.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pharmacovigilance activities are coordinated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) through its National Pharmacovigilance Center, which is responsible for receiving ADR reports, issuing safety communications and supporting regulatory oversight [6]. Publicly reported SFDA data indicate a substantial volume of ADR submissions, with approximately 173,000 reports received during the first half of 2024, involving commonly prescribed medications such as amlodipine, atorvastatin, furosemide, metformin and esomeprazole [7]. While these figures suggest increasing engagement with ADR reporting systems, they do not provide insight into the quality of reports, the consistency of reporting across healthcare settings or the extent to which frontline pharmacists contribute to these submissions.

Despite broader healthcare reforms under Saudi Vision 2030, several local studies have documented persistent challenges in ADR reporting, including variability in pharmacists’ familiarity with reporting procedures and uncertainty regarding reporting channels [2,8]. National and regional surveys have shown that pharmacists often demonstrate awareness of pharmacovigilance concepts but report limited procedural confidence in submitting ADR reports to the SFDA [9]. Reported barriers include time constraints, lack of clarity regarding reporting processes and perceived complexity of reporting systems [8]. These findings suggest that underreporting may be driven less by attitudinal resistance and more by system-level and practical constraints.

Although previous Saudi studies have explored pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to pharmacovigilance, many have focused on community pharmacists or mixed healthcare professional groups, with limited attention to hospital-based practice contexts and role-related differences [2,8,9]. In addition, existing evidence highlights a recurring discrepancy between high self-reported knowledge or positive attitudes and low levels of actual ADR reporting, indicating a gap between conceptual awareness and procedural implementation [3].

Accordingly, this study aims to assess pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices regarding ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance within hospital settings in Saudi Arabia, while examining professional and experiential factors associated with reporting behavior. By characterizing reported barriers and practice patterns, the study seeks to provide empirical evidence that may inform future system-level and educational efforts aligned with SFDA pharmacovigilance requirements, without extending beyond the descriptive scope of a cross-sectional design.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Design

A cross-sectional study design was employed to examine pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices related to Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting and pharmacovigilance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire distributed through Google Forms during the study period.

Study Participants and Sampling

The study population comprised licensed pharmacists working in hospital settings across Saudi Arabia, including both general pharmacists and clinical pharmacists involved in medication management and patient care. A non-probability convenience sampling approach was used due to the absence of a national sampling frame and the exploratory nature of the study.

Pharmacists were eligible for inclusion if they were licensed to practice in Saudi Arabia, actively working in a hospital environment and involved in clinical or dispensing-related activities. Pharmacists working exclusively in administrative or non-clinical roles were excluded. Participation was voluntary.

Sample size estimation was guided by commonly used parameters for cross-sectional surveys, applying a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error based on an estimated pharmacist population. To account for potential incomplete responses, a margin was added, resulting in a final analytical sample of 215 respondents. Given the online distribution method, the response rate could not be precisely determined.

Questionnaire

Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire adapted from previously published and validated instruments assessing pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting among pharmacists and hospital-based practitioners [2,3,8,9]. The questionnaire was reviewed and refined to ensure contextual relevance to hospital pharmacy practice in Saudi Arabia.

The final instrument consisted of four sections:

• Demographic and professional characteristics (age, gender, educational level, years of experience, professional role and practice setting)
• Knowledge related to ADRs and pharmacovigilance
• Attitudes toward ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance
• Self-reported practices related to ADR reporting

Most items in the knowledge, attitude and practice sections used categorical response options (Yes/No/Do not know), consistent with KAP-based survey methodology. Additional questions addressing perceived barriers and facilitators of ADR reporting allowed multiple responses. The questionnaire was administered in English, reflecting the language of pharmacy education and professional practice in Saudi Arabia.

Prior to full deployment, the questionnaire was pilot-tested to assess clarity and internal consistency. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, which demonstrated acceptable internal consistency comparable to similar pharmacovigilance studies conducted in hospital pharmacy settings.

Scoring System

A scoring framework was applied to quantify knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices related to ADR reporting. Each correct or appropriate response was assigned one point, while incorrect or “do not know” responses were assigned zero. Domain-specific composite scores were calculated by summing item scores.

Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 10 and were categorized as higher awareness (≥6) or lower awareness (≤5). Attitude scores ranged from 0 to 7 and were categorized as positive (≥4) or less favorable (≤3). Practice scores ranged from 0 to 7 and were categorized as relatively adequate (≥4) or limited (≤3). These thresholds were adopted from previously published KAP-based pharmacovigilance studies among pharmacists and were used to support descriptive and inferential analyses. The scoring system reflects self-reported responses and does not measure actual reporting competence.

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), version 26. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and response distributions. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations.

Associations between pharmacist characteristics and knowledge, attitude and practice scores were explored using chi-square tests. Correlation analysis was conducted to examine relationships among knowledge, attitude and practice scores. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with self-reported ADR reporting practice. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of <0.05. No causal inferences were drawn due to the cross-sectional design.

Ethical Considerations

Participants were provided with an information sheet outlining the study objectives, voluntary nature of participation and assurance of anonymity. Electronic informed consent was obtained prior to questionnaire completion and no personally identifiable information was collected.

As shown in Table 1, a total of 215 participants responded to the questionnaire. The majority of respondents were male (61.9%) and the largest age group was 25-29 years (28.8%), followed by 20-24 years (24.7%). Clinical pharmacists accounted for 60.0% of the sample. Most participants held a bachelor’s degree (69.7%), while 30.3% had obtained a master’s degree. The majority of respondents reported less than 10 years of professional experience (79.5%). With respect to workload indicators, nearly half of the participants spent 5-10 minutes per prescription, with a mean of 23.23±9.24 prescriptions and 46.12±12.69 patients per day.

Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of the Study Participants (n = 215)

Table 2 shows the overall levels of knowledge, attitude and practice toward adverse drug reaction reporting among the study participants (n = 215). The majority of respondents demonstrated a good level of knowledge regarding ADR reporting (89.8%), while only 10.2% exhibited poor knowledge. Attitudes toward ADR reporting were predominantly positive, with 96.3% of participants showing a positive attitude. In contrast, practice levels were less favorable, as only 32.1% of respondents reported adequate practice related to ADR reporting, whereas 67.9% demonstrated inadequate practice.

Table 2: Overall Levels of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward ADR Reporting (n = 215)

Table 3 shows participants’ responses to knowledge-related questions regarding adverse drug reaction reporting and pharmacovigilance (n = 215). The majority of respondents reported awareness of the drug side effects reporting program in Saudi Arabia (73.9%) and indicated that reporting over-the-counter-related ADRs is necessary (94.9%). Most participants also recognized the necessity of reporting documented ADRs (81.9%) and were aware of drugs that had been banned due to ADRs (81.9%). Awareness of pharmacovigilance concepts was high, with 86.0% reporting that they had heard about pharmacovigilance. However, less than half of the respondents indicated that they knew how to report an ADR (44.2%), while 27.9% reported not knowing how to report and an equal proportion were uncertain. Regarding perceptions of medication safety, 59.5% disagreed with the statement that every medicine is safe and 64.7% indicated that severe ADRs should be reported. In addition, 65.6% of participants disagreed with the statement that herbal products have no ADRs. With respect to reporting practices, 71.2% agreed that consulting physicians before reporting an ADR is important.

Table 3: Response of the Study Participants to Knowledge-Related Questions (n = 215)

Table 4 shows participants’ responses to attitude-related questions toward adverse drug reaction reporting (n = 215). Overall, attitudes toward ADR reporting were highly positive, with most respondents agreeing that pharmacists should be involved in ADR reporting (93.0%) and that ADR reporting benefits patients (98.1%). A large proportion of participants indicated that ADR reporting should be mandatory (80.9%) and that it improves patient safety (96.3%). The majority also perceived ADR reporting as part of their professional role (94.9%) and reported the need to confirm an ADR before reporting it (85.1%). In contrast, perceptions regarding time burden were more variable, as 26.5% of respondents considered ADR reporting to be time-consuming, while more than half disagreed with this statement (54.0%).

Table 4: Response of the Study Participants to Attitude-Related Questions (n = 215)

Table 5 shows participants’ responses to practice-related questions regarding adverse drug reaction reporting (n = 215). Less than half of the respondents reported encountering ADRs during the previous year (43.7%), while only 16.3% indicated that they had never reported an ADR. Although most participants reported reading articles related to ADRs (80.9%), fewer than half reported having received training on ADR reporting (26.5%) or having access to an ADR reporting form at their workplace (23.3%). Approximately half of the respondents indicated that they had previously prevented ADRs (52.1%), whereas attendance at ADR or pharmacovigilance workshops was reported by 38.1% of participants.

Table 5: Response of the Study Participants to Practice-Related Questions (n = 215)

Table 6 shows the correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice scores related to adverse drug reaction reporting. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.304, p<0.0001). Knowledge scores were also significantly correlated with practice scores (r = 0.269, p = 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between attitude and practice scores (r = 0.227, p = 0.004).

Table 6: Correlation Between Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Scores

Table 7 shows the predictors of adverse drug reaction reporting practice among the study participants. Knowledge score was significantly associated with practice, as participants with poor knowledge scores (≤5) showed higher odds of inadequate ADR reporting practice compared with those with good knowledge scores (OR = 8.07, p = 0.0219). Attitude score was also a significant predictor, with lower attitude scores (≤3) associated with inadequate practice (OR = 2.91, p = 0.041). In addition, professional status, educational qualification and years of experience were significantly associated with ADR reporting practice, as clinical pharmacists, bachelor’s degree holders and participants with ≤10 years of experience demonstrated higher odds of inadequate practice (p<0.05).

Table 7: Predictors of ADR Reporting Practice

Ref: The reference, *Significance difference ≤0.05, **Significance difference ≤0.01

Table 8 shows participants’ perceptions, willingness and barriers toward adverse drug reaction reporting. ADRs were most confirmed through patient interviews (80.1%) and the seriousness of the reaction was the main factor encouraging reporting (53.2%). Most respondents indicated that all types of ADRs should be reported (73.1%). The most frequently reported barriers were the unavailability of reporting forms (39.1%) and uncertainty regarding how and where to report ADRs (33.3%).

Table 8: Perception, Willingness, Factors and Barriers Toward ADR Reporting

This study examined pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices regarding Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting and pharmacovigilance in Saudi Arabia and identified a consistent pattern that has been reported in similar settings. While respondents demonstrated high awareness of pharmacovigilance concepts and largely positive attitudes toward ADR reporting, reported engagement in actual reporting activities was limited. This discrepancy between conceptual awareness and reported practice has been described in previous Saudi studies and reflects an ongoing challenge in translating professional responsibility into routine reporting behavior [8,9].

The high level of knowledge reported by participants is comparable to findings from earlier studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and the region, which have shown that pharmacists generally recognize the importance of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting [2,3]. Awareness of the need to report ADRs related to over-the-counter medicines, documented reactions and herbal products suggests that respondents were familiar with the broad scope of medication safety responsibilities. Similar patterns of awareness have been reported among pharmacists in other Middle Eastern and Asian contexts, indicating that formal exposure to pharmacovigilance concepts is relatively well established [10,11].

However, this reported knowledge did not consistently translate into procedural confidence. A substantial proportion of participants indicated uncertainty regarding how to submit ADR reports, highlighting a gap between theoretical understanding and practical competence. This finding aligns with earlier Saudi research identifying limited familiarity with reporting pathways and operational steps as key contributors to underreporting [9,12]. International studies similarly report that pharmacists may understand the importance of pharmacovigilance but remain uncertain when navigating reporting systems, particularly in the absence of clear institutional guidance or feedback mechanisms [13,14].

Attitudes toward ADR reporting in the present study were predominantly positive, with most respondents viewing reporting as beneficial to patient safety and part of professional responsibility. These findings are consistent with prior Saudi studies demonstrating favorable perceptions of pharmacovigilance among pharmacists and other healthcare professionals [3,8]. Nonetheless, positive attitudes alone were insufficient to ensure regular reporting, reinforcing evidence that attitudinal readiness does not necessarily overcome practical or organizational barriers [15].

Reported practice outcomes further illustrated this gap. Only a minority of participants indicated that they had ever submitted an ADR report, despite many reporting encounters with suspected ADRs in daily practice. This pattern has been widely documented in both hospital and community pharmacy settings, where recognition of ADRs does not consistently result in formal reporting [16,17]. Comparable reporting gaps have also been reported in hospital pharmacists in other regions, including China and South Asia, suggesting that underreporting reflects a broader, system-level issue rather than a context-specific phenomenon [11,13].

The observed correlations between knowledge, attitudes and practice scores support the general assumptions of KAP-based frameworks; however, the modest strength of these associations indicates that knowledge and attitudes alone explain only a limited proportion of reporting behavior. This suggests that structural, organizational and workflow-related factors play a significant role in shaping ADR reporting practices. Similar findings have been reported in previous pharmacovigilance studies, emphasizing the need for interventions that extend beyond educational initiatives [12,14].

Regression analysis further indicated that professional role, educational level and years of experience were associated with reported ADR reporting practice. Pharmacists with lower knowledge and attitude scores, those holding bachelor’s degrees and those with fewer years of experience were more likely to report limited reporting activity. These findings are consistent with Saudi and international literature suggesting that advanced training, greater clinical exposure and professional maturity may enhance confidence in ADR identification and reporting [2,8,13]. However, the wide confidence intervals observed for some predictors indicate variability and should be interpreted cautiously.

Barriers identified in this study, including uncertainty regarding reporting procedures, limited access to reporting tools and difficulty confirming suspected ADRs, closely mirror those reported in earlier Saudi studies [9,15]. The persistence of these barriers suggests that underreporting is driven primarily by system-level and process-related constraints rather than lack of awareness or motivation. Although electronic reporting systems are available, their integration into routine clinical workflows and pharmacists’ familiarity with their use may remain insufficient. Evidence from Saudi hospital settings indicates that simplifying reporting procedures, providing clear operational guidance and embedding reporting tools within daily practice can improve reporting engagement [8,12].

Overall, the findings indicate that pharmacists in Saudi Arabia demonstrate high awareness and favorable attitudes toward pharmacovigilance, yet reported ADR reporting practices remain limited. This gap appears to reflect challenges related to procedural competence, workflow integration and system support rather than deficiencies in professional intent. Addressing these issues will likely require a combination of practice-oriented training, clearer reporting pathways and organizational support that reinforces ADR reporting as a routine component of pharmacy practice rather than an additional administrative task.

This study demonstrates that pharmacists working in hospital settings in Saudi Arabia generally report high awareness of pharmacovigilance principles and favorable attitudes toward Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting. However, reported engagement in ADR reporting remains limited, indicating a gap between conceptual understanding and procedural implementation. The findings suggest that barriers to reporting are primarily related to uncertainty about reporting processes, limited integration of reporting tools into routine workflows, challenges in confirming suspected ADRs and time constraints, rather than lack of professional motivation.

These results indicate that efforts to improve ADR reporting should move beyond general awareness-based training and instead emphasize practical, workflow-oriented approaches. Interventions such as hands-on training in reporting procedures, clearer institutional guidance and improved accessibility of reporting systems within clinical environments may better support pharmacists’ participation in pharmacovigilance activities. While the study does not evaluate specific interventions, it provides descriptive evidence that may inform future system-level and educational strategies aimed at strengthening medication safety practices.

Limitations

Several limitations should be considered when interpreting the findings of this study. The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference between knowledge, attitudes and reporting behavior. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which may be subject to recall bias and social desirability bias. The use of convenience sampling limits the representativeness of the sample and may restrict the generalizability of the results to all pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. In addition, ADR reporting practices were assessed based on self-reported responses rather than verified reporting records, which may not accurately reflect actual reporting behavior. The scoring system used to categorize knowledge, attitude and practice reflects awareness and perceptions rather than objective reporting competence.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all pharmacists who voluntarily participated in this study for their time and valuable contributions. Their cooperation was essential to the completion of this research.

Data Availability Statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Statement of Funding

No external funding was received for this study.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known financial or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this manuscript.

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