Evaluation of knowledge and habits of pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacies regarding pharmacovigilance and adverse event reporting

Pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse event reporting are crucial for patient safety. Reporting adverse drug reactions (ADR) is not only the duty of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, but also the responsibility of pharmacy technicians. Community pharmacies serve as the most frequently accessed and easily reachable primary healthcare facilities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and habits of community pharmacy technicians, who are among the professional groups with the most interaction with patients regarding drug safety, in detecting and reporting ADRs. The research was conducted through a survey with 30 questions, involving 185 participants. Of the participants, 56.7% stated that they had heard the term PV but were not familiar with the adverse event reporting form. More than 60% of the participants reported that there are patients who visit the pharmacy with adverse effect complaints. Among the pharmacy technicians, 51.6% stated that they had reported side effects. However, proportionally, the number of those who reported more than 10 adverse events throughout their careers was quite low. When examining the factors causing adverse effects, it was widely known that medications were the primary cause, but herbal products obtained from herbalists, as well as cosmetic and dermocosmetic preparations, could also lead to such effects. When asked what steps they take when encountering a side effect, the participants stated that they first reported the situation to the pharmacist at the pharmacy they work for. When questioned about the importance of ADR reporting, they believed that it was due to the lack of data on the drugs in use. The study shows that pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacies are open to practices and incentives that would help them be more effective in their knowledge and behavior. The results of the research highlight the importance of raising awareness and supporting the process with training to improve reporting.