Russian pharmacovigilance: ways to improve efficiency

The paper presents the results of a survey of pharmacovigilance specialists’ awareness of the regulation of reporting on adverse drug reactions, self-assessment of their competencies and readiness for distance learning, creation of a generalized portrait of a pharmacovigilance specialist to create mechanisms for improving pharmacovigilance activities, and continuing education of pharmacovigilance specialists. The results of the correlation analysis of the knowledge of pharmacovigilance specialists with their self-assessment of their position are reflected. Information-analytical and sociological (survey) methods and descriptive statistics were used. A questionnaire consisting of 31 items was developed for the survey. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of general questions, such as on education, work experience in the pharmaceutical field and pharmacovigilance, and position held. The second part focused on the structure of pharmacovigilance in the organization of holders of the registration certificate. The third part consisted of 17 items aimed at identifying the level of knowledge concerning the immediate daily activities in pharmacovigilance and knowledge of the legislative framework. The final element was a question about the attitude to distance learning. Specialists working in the field of pharmacovigilance at enterprises and persons authorized for pharmacovigilance objectively assessed their practical knowledge and skills in the field of drug safety. Moreover, 42 (72%) respondents believe that they do not need to update their knowledge on pharmacovigilance, whereas 51 (87%) people successfully passed the proposed survey on knowledge of current legislation. Employees of senior positions showed higher knowledge in the field of pharmacovigilance. Specialists and senior pharmacovigilance specialists need to increase their level of professional knowledge, and they are aware of the need for further training.