Pharmacovigilance (PV) is essential to detect and prevent adverse drug reactions (ADR) after a drug is marketed. However, ADRs are significantly underreported worldwide. The aims of this study were to document the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of pharmacists toward PV and ADR reporting and to explore the barriers to implementing a fully functional PV program in Kuwait. Pharmacists working at governmental hospitals were asked to complete a paper-based 25-item questionnaire. A total of 414 pharmacists received the questionnaire and 342 agreed to participate, giving a response rate of 82.6%. Most pharmacists were knowledgeable about the concepts of PV (61.5%) and ADRs (72.6%) and the majority (88.6%) was willing to implement ADR reporting in their clinical practice. Despite this positive attitude, only 26.8% of participants had previously reported an ADR and the main reason for underreporting was stated as not knowing how to report (68.9%). Barriers that hinder the implementation of a PV center included lack of cooperation and communication by healthcare professionals and patients ( = 62), lack of time and proper management ( = 57), lack of awareness of staff and patients ( = 48) and no qualified person to report ADRs ( = 35). Overall this study shows that hospital pharmacists in Kuwait had good knowledge and positive attitude toward PV and ADRs reporting. However, the majority of them have never reported ADRs. These results suggest that targeted educational interventions and a well-defined policy for ADR reporting may help increase ADR reporting and support the implementation of a fully functional independent PV center in Kuwait.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to describe and examine the pattern of medication use, including age and gender differences among adolescents in Kuwait, and to establish the sources of information on medicines in this age group. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1,110 male and female students (14–21 years) from 10 randomly selected public schools in Kuwait was conducted.The prevalence of self-medication was estimated.Results: The prevalence of self-medication among the high school students was 92%. The prevalence increased by age from 87% among 14-year-olds to 95% among 18-year-olds. Sixty-five percent of medicines used were for pain relief, 54% for respiratory conditions, 39% for allergic conditions, and 37% for dermatological conditions. Twenty-two percent of medicines were nutritional supplements and vitamins, 21% gastrointestinal products, 17% antidandruff products, 15% hair products, 13% for migraine while 8% were for athlete’s foot. Pain relief, respiratory, dermatologic and hair products were more prevalent in female adolescents than in male while antidandruff and athlete’s foot preparations were used more by male adolescents. The most common sources of information on medicines were parents.Conclusion:The prevalence of self-medication among adolescents in Kuwait is high. Self-medication tended to increase with age and differed between male and female students. Few students consulted pharmacists for information on drugs. There is need to promote the image of the pharmacist in Kuwait as a provider of medication information.

Objective:The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perceptions, expectations and experience of physicians with hospital-based pharmacists in Kuwait. Materials and Methods: A piloted self-administered questionnaire was hand delivered to 200 physicians practicing in four government hospitals in Kuwait. Main sections of the questionnaire comprised a series of statements pertaining to physicians’ perceptions, expectations and experiences with pharmacists. Results: One hundred and twenty (60%) questionnaires were returned. At least 57% of physicians in Kuwait appear comfortable with pharmacists carrying out patient-directed roles. In addition, they appeared to have high expectations of pharmacists, with 79% of them regarding pharmacists as knowledgeable drug therapy experts. Less than 60% considered pharmacists as applying their drug knowledge in practice and only 29% agreed that pharmacists routinely counselled their patients. There was no correlation between physician variables such as number of years since graduation from medical school, age, area of practice and their perceptions of pharmacists. Conclusion: Physicians in Kuwait appear comfortable with pharmacists providing a broad range of services but appear somewhat less comfortable with pharmacists’ provision of direct patient care. Physicians considered pharmacists knowledgeable drug therapy experts, but regarded them as not routinely providing a broad range of higher-level pharmacy services.

Even though the current practice of disposal by majority of pharmacists is inappropriate, they are aware of the damage and acknowledge their responsibilities toward environment protection. Concerned authorities should monitor and implement proper disposal guidelines in all pharmacies. Majority of pharmacists support the idea of having the government pharmacies as collection points for safe disposal of UMs in Kuwait.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the attitude and practice of Kuwaiti patients in Kuwait with regard to safe disposal of unwanted medicines. Subjects and Methods: Three-hundred patients or their family members waiting for prescriptions at public general hospitals in Kuwait completed a questionnaire soliciting their practice with regard to medication use and disposal, and their opinion of the best way to dispose of unwanted medicines. Results: Almost half of the respondents (45.4%) obtained medicines on prescription more than 3 times a year and almost all had unwanted medicines in the home. Reasons for possessing unused medication were mostly due to a change of medication by the doctor (48.9%), or self-discontinuation (25.8%). Their most common method of disposal was to throw unwanted medicines in the trash (76.5%) or flush them down the drain (11.2%). Half (54.0%) thought that a system of taking medicines to pharmacies for safe disposal would be favorable. Conclusion: The study indicates that the need for an appropriate method for disposal of unwanted medication exists in Kuwait. Hence, guidelines on safe disposal of unwanted medicines are required and an organized method of collecting unused medication needs to be introduced.