Awareness of pharmacovigilance and experience with reporting of adverse drug events by adults in South Africa

Abstract

Individuals who use medication have first-hand knowledge of their experiences with adverse drug events (ADEs); however, under-reporting of ADEs has been identified as a leading shortcoming of pharmacovigilance programmes in South Africa and around the world. When patients are encouraged to report ADEs, it is more likely that the events that could influence medicine usage or result in injury are quickly identified and managed appropriately. It is important to understand the experiences of consumers, the enablers, and the barriers they encounter when reporting ADEs, to improve ADE reporting in South Africa.