Non-medical prescribers and pharmacovigilance: participation, competence and future needs

OBJECTIVE: To determine UK non-medical prescribers' (NMPs) (supplementary or independent) current participation and self-reported competence in pharmacovigilance, and their perceptions of training and future needs.

SETTING: Non-medical prescribers in health care in the United Kingdom. Awareness of and participation in the Yellow Card Scheme (YCS); attitudes towards ADR reporting; strategies to encourage reporting; pharmacovigilance training; and demographics. The sample comprised nurse (n = 912) and pharmacist (n = 2,439) NMPs in the UK.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported competence in pharmacovigilance, knowledge of and participation in the YCS, attitudes towards ADR reporting; strategies to encourage ADR reporting; pharmacovigilance training during NMP training.

RESULTS: Six hundred and thirteen responses were received giving an overall response rate of 20.4 %. Response rates for nurse and pharmacist prescribers were 32.2 % (n = 293) and 13.1 % (n = 320) respectively. Three hundred and fifty-nine respondents (58.6 %) had submitted a Yellow Card. Although the majority of respondents (70.4 %) felt competent in pharmacovigilance, a third (34.2 %) said they needed further training. Respondents reported a positive attitude towards ADR reporting, yet only a minority (22.9 %) correctly answered factual questions about the YCS. Approximately a third of respondents (35.6 %) "couldn't remember" if pharmacovigilance was covered in their prescribing training. Publicity and education were commonly suggested measures to enhance contribution to the YCS.

CONCLUSION: While NMPs report participation and competence in ADR reporting, there are several key issues to consider including the need for further training and support to optimise their role in pharmacovigilance.