Abstract:

Background: Nurses in hospitals are among health providers very close to patients and are involved in the process of administering medications especially to inpatients hence have a great role in reporting of ADRs. This study assessed the proportion of nurses reporting adverse drug reactions and factors associated in public associated in public and private hospitals.

Methodology: A cross sectional was conducted among nurses in public and private hospitals in Shinyanga, Tanzania to compare their reporting on adverse drugs reactions (ADRs) and factors associated in which the minimal sample size for the study was calculated using the Kish Leslie formula (a proportion of 14%) and using convenience sampling 185 participants were selected from public hospitals and private hospitals.

Results: From both private and public hospitals only 46/185 nurses said ever reported drug reactions majority of them ever reported once, 25/46 nurses from public and 21/46 nurses from private making a proportion of 46 among 185 respondents ever reported ADRs on the past years. Majority of respondents in public 84 (47.2%) and 94 (52.8%) agreed lack of seminar/training affect ADRs reporting has an effect on reporting of adverse drug reactions among nurses. Further results showed many respondents from public hospitals 59 (40.4%) nurses and 87 (59.6%) nurses private hospitals didn’t have access to ADR reported forms.

Conclusion: Majority of nurses have never reported adverse drug reactions and training, availability of yellow cards and presence of a focal person are among important contributing factors in reporting of ADRs among nurses in public and private hospitals.