Abstract
This study aimed to provide pharmaceutical care for the general community served by Pharmacy students from the Pharmacy School of the State University of Maringá [Universidade Estadual do Maringá] (UEM). Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up was performed with the identification, classification and resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs) through pharmaceutical consultations. A descriptive analysis was conducted. A total of 59 patients were interviewed; they were mostly women (75%) with average age of 63 years, and each of them was taking 8 medicines on average. The most frequently mentioned drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Code and related to cardiovascular system (28%), alimentary tract and metabolism (23%), and nervous system (20%). An average of 1.49 DRP per patient was detected (88), and treatment non-compliance was the most frequent DRPs found (45%). In view of this, 63 pharmaceutical interventions were carried out, with most of them (52%) being related to patient education on the treatment; approximately 20% of the patients were referred to another health professional. Information supplied by this study shows the relevant role of pharmacists face the lack of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of polymedicated patients.
Highlights
Pharmaceutical consultation is the means by which pharmacists can prescribe medications, selecting and documenting pharmacotherapy and other necessary interventions related to patient healthcare (Brasil, 2013a; 2013b)
Evidence has shown the role of pharmacists in identifying and solving drug-related problems (DRPs), improving behavior as to medication compliance through adequate strategies for health education, decreasing the incidence of adverse events, reducing costs and time related to the condition (Adusumilli & Adepu, 2014; Al Rahbi, Al-Sabri, & Chitme, 2013)
Most of the patients reported use of a high number of medications simultaneously and required pharmaceutical interventions, with the main interventions being related to patient education on the treatment
Summary
A rational, safe and cost-efficient pharmacological therapy depends on proper diagnosis, proper prescription, as well as on treatment comprehension and compliance by patients (Adusumilli & Adepu, 2014). Evidence has shown the role of pharmacists in identifying and solving drug-related problems (DRPs), improving behavior as to medication compliance through adequate strategies for health education, decreasing the incidence of adverse events, reducing costs and time related to the condition (Adusumilli & Adepu, 2014; Al Rahbi, Al-Sabri, & Chitme, 2013). DRPs are any unwanted event experienced by patients that involve or is thought to involve drug therapy, interfering with expected results (Strand, Morley, Cipolle, Ramsey & Lamsam, 1990). The terminology DRPs has been replaced by drug therapy problems (Cipolle, Strand, Morley, 2012). Some studies covering DRPs are being conducted around the world
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