A Survey of Pharmacists and Other Healthcare Professionals in Vietnam: Factors Influencing Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions

Background

Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals are significant factors that affect the reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). No previous research has examined the predictors of knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting in Vietnam.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the factors (ie, demographic and job-related characteristics) associated with inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward ADR reporting in a Vietnamese public hospital.

Methods

A survey recruited a cross-sectional sample of 511 healthcare professionals (with a response rate of 92.9%) at a public hospital in Vinh Long province, Vietnam, from December 2022 to February 2023, using a self-administered questionnaire. Factors related to knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Pharmacists had significantly lower knowledge scores (mean = 5.86) than medical practitioners (7.24) and nurses (6.72). Additionally, pharmacists' attitudes scored significantly lower (34.61) than those of medical practitioners (37.21) and nurses (36.86). Multivariate logistic regression showed that educational level, healthcare profession, monthly on-call shifts, and number of direct patient interactions were factors associated with a lower level of knowledge regarding ADR reporting. Additionally, age group and healthcare profession were identified as factors associated with negative attitudes toward ADR reporting among healthcare workers.

Conclusions

Our study identified several factors associated with lower levels of knowledge and negative attitudes toward ADR reporting among healthcare workers in Vietnam. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and education programs to improve healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting.

Correction: Job Satisfaction of Hospital Pharmacists in a representative province in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291201.].

Job satisfaction of hospital pharmacists in a representative province in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Job satisfaction is an important factor affecting job performance and turnover of healthcare workers, especially hospital pharmacists. Nevertheless, limited studies have reported this issue in the context of Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES

To help maintain the quality and size of the limited hospital pharmacy workforce in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta area, this study investigated the job satisfaction of hospital pharmacists, and the associated factors, in Vinh Long province, a representative province in the central Mekong Delta.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted, recruiting hospital pharmacists working in all 17 province/district-affiliated healthcare facilities across Vinh Long province, Vietnam, between August and September 2022.

RESULTS

Among the 235 survey participants (representing a response rate of 97.1%), 189 pharmacists (80.4%) reported that they were satisfied with their job. Working conditions, leadership styles, and benefits were factors found to significantly influence job satisfaction. Pharmacists who had worked in the field for 3-5 years (OR = 3.752, 95% CI = 1.036-13.595), more than 5 years (OR = 6.361, 95% CI = 2.264-17.875), did not have additional duties besides their primary responsibilities (OR = 2.046, 95% CI = 1.005-4.163), and worked in a private healthcare facility (OR = 12.021, 95% CI = 1.470-98.316), were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their job.

CONCLUSIONS

Most hospital pharmacists were satisfied with their current job. To further improve job satisfaction in this population, further improvements to working conditions are necessary.

Facilitators and barriers to telepharmacy use among community pharmacists in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Objectives

Recent years have seen the development and advancement of pharmaceutical care services using telecommunications, termed telepharmacy, in a variety of countries and settings. This study investigated the motivations/facilitators and barriers to pharmacists implementing telepharmacy at pharmacies/drugstores in the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to May 2022, on 747 pharmacists, at pharmacies in all 13 cities/provinces in the Mekong Delta area, Vietnam.

Key findings

Of the 747 respondents, 74% participants had experience of using telepharmacy. Having a university degree in pharmacy (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.11–3.12; P = 0.018) and a monthly income >8.4 million VND (~357 USD) (aOR = 2.00; 95%CI = 1.16–3.42; P = 0.012) were factors positively associated with telepharmacy use. The factor reported as most greatly motivating telepharmacy use was its ability to provide healthcare services to people in remote/rural areas and those unable to travel (82.3%). The main barrier to telepharmacy use was cited as a lack of policies and regulations on the implementation, application and support of telepharmacy practice (76.8%). More than 75% of those without telepharmacy experience reported that they would like to use it in the future.

Conclusions

Telepharmacy use in Vietnam is familiar with the community pharmacists, although the use of telecommunications in pharmacy was only recently adopted in this country. Vietnamese government bodies and policy-makers must issue detailed regulations and instructions governing telepharmacy practice to support these advancements to the healthcare system in Vietnam.