A new cross-sectional study uncovers gaps and predictors in
pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions toward pharmacovigilance
activities in Palestine, highlighting the impacts on future pharmaceutical
safety and the profession’s evolution. Multiple regional studies and official
expert statements reveal positive attitudes amidst critical gaps in practical training
and regulatory awareness.
In a landmark cross-sectional survey,
Palestinian pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions towards
pharmacovigilance activities have been rigorously assessed, exposing both
strengths in attitude and concerning deficiencies in critical regulatory
understanding. The findings, compiled by multidisciplinary teams and validated
through comparative analysis with neighbouring regions, underscore the vital
need for curriculum reforms and expanded practical training to ensure
medication safety in Palestine and beyond.
What Is Pharmacovigilance and Why Does It Matter for Palestine?
According to Fivy Kurniawati and colleagues, writing
for Pharmacy Education, pharmacovigilance is the science and set of
activities that relate to the detection, assessment, understanding, and
prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or any other medicine-related
problems. Pharmacovigilance programmes exist globally to increase drug safety
and reduce morbidity or mortality caused by ADRs.
Palestine, with its unique healthcare landscape, must
embrace robust pharmacovigilance systems to protect patients and ensure the
safety of medicinal products, as highlighted in broader regional research and
policy reviews.
Study Design Details
As reported by Hasan E. Hasan of PLoS One, the
primary data in recent years comes from cross-sectional surveys involving hundreds
of pharmacy students and faculty members across Palestine.
- Sampling: Anonymous
online and paper questionnaires distributed to a random sample of students
across leading Palestinian universities.
- Measures: The
survey included validated questions surveying knowledge of
pharmacovigilance, perceptions toward ADR reporting, and sociodemographic
predictors.
- Analysis: Statistical
methods included frequencies, percentages, knowledge/perception scoring,
and regression analyses to identify predictors.
What Did Palestinian Pharmacy Students Know About Pharmacovigilance?
As noted by Kurniawati and colleagues for Pharmacy Education, a majority of students understood the core definition of pharmacovigilance (over 97%), as well as the concept of ADR (over 92%). They correctly identified that ADR reports should be filed with the appropriate regulatory authorities and using the correct forms in their context. However, several critical weaknesses emerged:
- Only
54% of final-year pharmacy students demonstrated a high overall level of
pharmacovigilance knowledge.
- There
was significant misunderstanding regarding the sufficiency of
pre-marketing safety data for rare ADRs.
- Only
one in four respondents could correctly distinguish between all ADR
subtypes and their implications.
- Just
over half correctly recognised which regulatory body handles ADRs in their
country.
Comparative Findings from Other Regions
According to Y. Jarrar, reporting for a cross-sectional
study in PMC involving 466 students in the West Bank of
Palestine, pharmacy students overwhelmingly acknowledge genetic variations
impact drug response, yet more than 60% felt their formal education about these
emerging pharmacovigilance concepts was insufficient.
Attitudinal Strengths
Kurniawati et al. emphasised that more than 95% of students
agreed that pharmacovigilance is essential and should be a core topic in their
pharmacy education. The importance of patient and public reporting, as
well as pharmacist involvement in ADR prevention, was widely recognised.
- Most
students accepted mandatory curriculum inclusion and frequent
pharmacovigilance training.
- 88%
felt prepared to report ADRs as future professionals.
Nevertheless, some concerning attitudes persisted. A
substantial segment was reluctant to counsel patients about ADRs every time
medication was dispensed, potentially undermining comprehensive patient safety.
What Are the Main Barriers and Predictors of Knowledge in Palestine?
As disclosed by Hasan E. Hasan (PLoS One), several
predictors and barriers emerged from comparative regional studies:
Predictors of better knowledge/perception include:
- Higher
income and educational achievement.
- Advanced
academic year and GPA.
- Previous
exposure to pharmacovigilance lectures or workshops.
- Greater
self-reported tech-savviness and use of evidence-based digital resources.
Barriers identified include:
- Lack
of standardised, deep pharmacovigilance curriculum.
- Insufficient
practical or clinical ADR reporting training.
- Infrequent
or superficial regulatory updates in national context.
Regulatory ambiguity further exacerbates the information
gap. As articulated by the Palestinian Pharmacovigilance Centre, there are
still obstacles in communication and implementation at the local level, with
insufficient coordination with regulatory authorities and manufacturers.
Are These Gaps Unique to Palestine? What Do Regional
Comparisons Reveal?
Pan-Regional Gaps:
Studies from neighbouring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt, echo
similar patterns. As highlighted by Hasan E. Hasan (PLoS One), the mean
knowledge score regarding advanced technological interventions in
pharmacovigilance, such as artificial intelligence, hovers at a moderate
42.3/100 across the Middle East. Pharmacy students, while enthusiastic about
new technologies' positive impact, remain under-trained in core
pharmacovigilance skills, advanced ADR typologies, and the regulatory
frameworks underpinning their future responsibilities.
Positive Perception, Gaps in Practice:
The attitude toward pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting remains positive;
students are eager for more in-depth and practical exposure, yet only a small
fraction have received verified training or regularly participate in workshops.
Notably, 96.2% of surveyed respondents believe that new technologies, such as
AI, could improve patient safety and pharmacy services, yet only a minority had
exposure to such practical tools in their educational process.
What Are the Recommendations from Researchers and Policy Makers?
As reported by Fivy Kurniawati et al. (Pharmacy Education),
and reiterated by Hasan E. Hasan (PLoS One), the central recommendation
is the urgent standardisation and expansion of pharmacovigilance training at
all curricular levels. Main proposals include:
- Making
pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting core, examinable topics.
- Implementing
regular workshops and simulation-based learning for practical ADR
assessment and reporting.
- Reviewing
and updating national pharmacovigilance protocols in pharmacy faculties.
- Encouraging
students to use digital platforms, databases, and official health
authority updates to keep current.
- Establishing
formal collaboration between universities and regulatory bodies for
experiential learning.
What Are the Policy and Practice Implications for Palestine?
As summarised across the studies, the following steps are crucial for Palestine’s pharmaceutical workforce and patient safety initiatives:
- Curricular
Reform: Ensuring a comprehensive, multi-year pharmacovigilance
module.
- Regulatory
Engagement: Clearer regulatory guidelines and more direct
coordination with the Palestinian Pharmacovigilance Centre.
- Training
Scaling: Expanding hands-on ADRs simulation workshops and case
studies.
- Technology
Integration: Introducing students to advanced data management and
reporting tools, preparing them for modern challenges.
Statements and Expert Commentary
“Final-year pharmacy students and pharmacy professional trainees in the region report strong conceptual knowledge and a positive perception of pharmacovigilance but remain underprepared in practical application and regulatory fluency,”
writes Fivy Kurniawati for Pharmacy
Education.
Hasan E. Hasan, in PLoS One, observed:
“A high income, strong academic background, and earlier involvement in technology applications are significant predictors of increased pharmacovigilance knowledge and readiness in the Palestinian context. However, the insufficient curriculum and training present a pressing challenge”.
The Palestinian Pharmacovigilance Centre commented in its official policy brief that,
“Without prior notification and regulatory approval, the dissemination of pharmacovigilance safety data remains tightly restricted, further complicating the situational awareness of both students and practitioners”.
Urgent Action Needed for Future Professionals
The assessment of pharmacy students’ knowledge and
perceptions of pharmacovigilance activities in Palestine reveals a hopeful but
precarious situation—students largely understand and value their role in drug
safety, but critical knowledge gaps and regulatory uncertainties threaten to
undermine these strengths. Concrete action in pharmacy education reform,
sustained clinical engagement, and transparent regulatory collaboration are
essential to translate positive attitudes into life-saving professional
competences in the Palestinian healthcare system.