Pharmacovigilance organization and training needs of health personnels in health facilities of Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

In plain language

A cross-sectional study investigated pharmacovigilance practices and training needs across regional and referral health facilities in Cameroon. Researchers surveyed ten health facilities and 214 healthcare workers about adverse drug event reporting and institutional resources. Only four facilities had dedicated pharmacovigilance units, and three carried out neither detection nor notification of adverse events. Among healthcare personnel, less than 42 percent demonstrated the knowledge required to detect adverse drug events, although nearly 73 percent knew the relevant reporting procedures. About 38 percent had received prior pharmacovigilance training, and every respondent stated a need for further instruction, specifically regarding national regulations, system organisation, and event detection. Key operational barriers identified by staff included inadequate budgets, limited access to professional training, a lack of written guidelines, and a shortage of qualified personnel to conduct drug safety surveillance.

Key takeaways

Only four out of ten participating health facilities had an established pharmacovigilance unit, and three conducted no adverse event detection or reporting.
Fewer than 42 percent of surveyed healthcare personnel had the required knowledge to detect adverse drug events, despite 73 percent being aware of reporting procedures.
All participating healthcare workers expressed a need for further training, particularly in national regulations, system organisation, and adverse event detection.
Primary obstacles to effective pharmacovigilance included budget shortages, missing guidelines, inadequate staffing, and limited access to training.

Why it matters

Patient safety depends on the ability of healthcare workers to recognise and report adverse reactions to medicines. Identifying weaknesses in pharmacovigilance infrastructure and staff knowledge allows health authorities and funders to target investments effectively. Addressing these shortages in training, guidelines, and funding is critical to preventing medication harms and ensuring reliable monitoring of pharmaceutical safety across hospital networks.

Commercialisation angle

This baseline assessment identifies a clear demand for professional development programmes and operational toolkits within Cameroonian health facilities. The findings could inform training providers, educational software developers, or public health consultants developing structured pharmacovigilance curricula and clinical guideline packages. As an observational operational study, the work is at an early, needs-assessment stage rather than presenting a tested product or commercial intervention.

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Abstract

Abstract Health facilities (HFs) routinely administer medicines and are expected to ensure patient safety by detecting, reporting, investigating, and analysing adverse events following exposure to drugs (AEFED). This study aimed to assess the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities in referral and regional health facilities in Cameroon and to identify pharmacovigilance training needs among healthcare personnel (HP). This was a cross-sectional descriptive study targeting referral and regional health facilities and healthcare personnel involved in patient care and pharmacovigilance activities in Cameroon. Health facilities were selected using stratified purposive sampling, while healthcare personnel were selected through exhaustive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured electronic questionnaires administered face-to-face by trained enumerators. The questionnaires assessed the organization, resources, and implementation of pharmacovigilance activities at health facilities, as well as healthcare personnel knowledge of pharmacovigilance concepts, previous training, and perceived training needs. Of the 14 eligible health facilities, 10 (71.4%) consented to participate in the study. Of the 10 health facilities, 4 (40.0%) had an established pharmacovigilance unit, while 3 (30.0%) reported conducting neither detection nor notification activities. Among the 261 healthcare personnel approached, 214 (81.9%) participated. Only 41.6% had needed knowledge to detect an adverse event, while 72.9% were aware of adverse event notification procedures. Previous exposure to pharmacovigilance training was reported by 37.9% of healthcare personnel, and all participants expressed a need for additional training, particularly on national pharmacovigilance regulations (69.2%), organization of the pharmacovigilance system (67.3%), and adverse event detection (67.3%). The main reported challenges by healthcare personnel in the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities included insufficient budget allocation, limited access to pharmacovigilance training, lack of pharmacovigilance guidelines and insufficient qualified human resources. Pharmacovigilance implementation in referral and regional health facilities in Cameroon remains limited, with gaps in organizational structures, resources, healthcare personnel knowledge, and training. Strengthening pharmacovigilance systems through improved facility capacity, availability of essential tools, and targeted healthcare personnel training is needed to enhance drug safety surveillance.

Research topics

Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions
Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes

Discussion

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