Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up Research Articles

Seguimiento farmacoterapéutico a pacientes polimedicados

Professional pharmaceutical care services contribute to better health problem control, especially in polymedicated patients, and to the optimization of health resources, which leads to less medication prescription and fewer visits to healthcare centers. This study included 78 patients, with the female sex being the most prevalent, with an average age of 72.49 ± 13.92 years; of these, 60 patients were over 65 years of age and, herefore, considered geriatric patients. They were included in a personalized medication dispensing service and, subsequently, a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up was carried out. 450 medication-related problems were detected, the most frequent of which were associated with the patient: lack of knowledge of use, poor therapeutic adherence, administration errors, etc., with the probability of presenting them being higher in the male sex. Associated with these medication problems, 160 negative medication-related results were detected; only 5 of them were not resolved during the study phase, the most frequent being those of non-quantitative ineffectiveness, that is, those that are not resolved with a modification of the pharmacological dose but by including or eliminating other active ingredients. In conclusion, the personalized medication dispensing service requires a medication review, such as pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, as both allow the optimization of the treatment of polymedicated patients, as well as an increase in the control of health problems. Keywords: SPD; SFT; Community Pharmacy Professional; Pharmaceutical Healthcare Services; Pharmaceutical Care

Serum Level of Immunosuppressants as a Marker of Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Education in Solid Organ Transplantation

Solid organ transplantation promotes an increase in the quality of life of those with diseases that compromise the functioning of a specific organ, maximizing graft survival and reducing the need for retransplantation is essential. Post-transplant medication adherence is one of the factors that influence positive clinical outcomes, with this, the importance of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up at the hospital and outpatient level with the clinical pharmacist is addressed. Objectives: To verify the impact of pharmacotherapeutic guidance and follow-up on the compliance of serum levels of calcineurin inhibitors in lung and liver transplant patients. Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study with adult liver and lung transplant patients using calcineurin inhibitors, aged over 18 years, between 2018 and 2020. The variation index was calculated through the mean and standard deviation of serum levels collected during the index hospitalization, being used to assess the adequacy of serum levels in three different periods. Results: A total of 84 patients were transplanted, including 64 patients (45 liver transplants and 19 lung transplants). In a subgroup analysis, 42.22% of the liver patients and 47.37% of the lung transplant recipients did not have the same serum level in the first post-discharge consultation. After 1 year of transplantation and differentiated outpatient follow-ups, the target serum levels were reached in 63.16% and 77.78% of the studied populations, respectively. Conclusion: The importance of clinical action was demonstrated from the reflection obtained on the adequacy and conformity of serum levels of calcineurin inhibitors, not only at the hospital level but mainly on the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up carried out on an outpatient basis, in which we observed a more expressive value.

Quality of life and level of satisfaction with pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in a transgender health center in Brazil

Trans people face numerous barriers to access and permanence in health services, which makes it difficult, among other things, to know about their quality of life and satisfaction with health services related to these users. Thus, the objective was to describle the quality of life and satisfaction with pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in transgender people. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted between January and September 2022 at a specialized outpatient clinic for transgender individuals. The following aspects were describle: sociodemographic and medication profiles; quality of Life, which was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire; and levels of satisfaction with Pharmacotherapeutic Monitoring, assessed through the Pharmacy Services Satisfaction Questionnaire (QSSF). Descriptive analyses employed measures of central tendency, absolute and relative frequencies, while inferential analyses used the Student’s t test. A total of 101 transgender individuals participated in the study, with a mean age of 25 years, the majority being single (79.2%/80), having more than 11 years of education (47.5%/n = 48), and comprising 48.5% (n = 49) transgender women. Hormone use was reported by 59.4% (n = 60) of the participants, with 18.3% (n = 11) of self-medication. Testosterone cypionate was the most common hormone used by transgender men (84%), while cyproterone acetate and estradiol represented 60.4% of hormone use among transgender women. Additionally, 36 transgender individuals were taking other drugs (n = 60), mainly antidepressives (28%). The WHOQOL-BREF showed higher scores in the domains of self-rated Quality of Life, and physical, and psychological well-being among transgender women compared to transgender men, but without statistical differences. Income revealed a statistically significant association with psychological domains and overall quality of life. The results of the QSSF indicated that the overall mean and average scores per question were higher than 4, suggesting that 100% of the sample was satisfied with the provided service. No statistically significant differences were observed in the Quality of Life between transgender men and women, but income was associated with the psychological domain and overall Quality of Life. All participants reported satisfaction with the Pharmacotherapeutic Monitoring service; however, there is a need to expand service offerings, such as medication dispensing.

Empowerment Provided by Health Education and its Impact on Self-care: Report of a Pharmaceutical Intervention

Aims: Older people, due to the development of multiple morbidities and in a situation of polypharmacy, become fragile in addition to their own physical and organic aging. For different reasons regarding the treatment, the health care provided, or the physical and mental condition of older people, problems of adherence to pharmacotherapy are present. Pharmaceutical care is an important practice to ensure rational pharmacotherapy for this population. The present study aims to describe the report of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up to a hospitalized older individual with multimorbidity and use of polypharmacy and to highlight an intervention aimed at adherence to pharmacotherapy. Case presentation: This is the planning of a strategy, aimed at promoting health education, which was carried out during the hospital stay of an older person who was included in the institution's pharmaceutical care services. In addition, at hospital discharge, in order to ensure greater benefits, a bag was made for the correct storage of medicines and a descriptive didactic list on how to use them. In this way, improvements were achieved in the transition of care for this patient. Conclusion: The importance of developing techniques that promote adherence to pharmacotherapy, especially for fragile populations, such as older people with multiple diseases, and using polypharmacy is suggested. Individualized educational interventions are instructive measures that can contribute to people's autonomy in their self-care.

Impact of a Community Pharmacy Pharmacotherapy Follow-up (PTF) service in patients using opioid analgesic

The use of prescribed major opioid analgesics (fentanyl, tapentadol, morphine and oxycodone and combinations) for non-cancer chronic pain is fraught with risks that may generate Negative Medicine Outcomes (NMO). Among the factors associated with these risks, those related to the patient's characteristics and aberrant behavior, the treatment conditions, and the prescription health settings should be evaluated with the aim of minimizing unsafety during the health care process. The present study addresses, from a community pharmacy, the analysis of Drug Related Problems (DRP) and Negative Medicine Outcomes (NMO) in patients using these major opioid analgesics while it aims to demonstrate the role of pharmaceutical care interventions in promoting safety during the use of these molecules. A three step Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up (PFT) protocol was designed to prevent, detect, and solve DRP and NMO associated with the use of opioid analgesics. 74.6% of the patients used opioid analgesics to treat musculoskeletal pain. Polypharmacy with benzodiazepines (61.9%); antidepressants (57.1%) and antiepileptics (30.2%) was detected in patients using these opioids. The Morisky-Green Adherence test revealed that 30.2% were nonadherent. It was observed, with statistical significance, that in all patients (63), the impact of the 14-week PFT supervised by the community pharmacist achieved an overall reduction in the prevalence of DRP and NMO. While the reduction in the number of DRPs reached 66.7%. Community pharmacies are a strategic point to promote and implement effective opioid stewardship due to both their central role in healthcare services and frequent interaction with patients.

Can pharmaceutical care decrease the oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an increase in oxidative stress, which is itself related to development of T2D’s main chronic complications. Oxidative stress caused by elevated production of reactive species of oxygen and decrease of antioxidant defense system level, leads to activation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative lipoprotein modification with increasing atherogenicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with T2D, users and non-users of insulin, interferes with the levels of oxidative stress, measuring lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase levels. After the follow-up, there was a decrease in nitric oxide levels and an increase in superoxide dismutase concentration for the group with insulin therapy. Accordingly, these results show that the proposed pharmaceutical care program reduced the oxidative stress levels, mainly in patients in insulin therapy, as a consequence, can impact in the surging of the main chronic complications in T2D.

Hospital pharmacy initiatives for improving the management of patients with congenital coagulopathies

ObjectiveTo identify and promote initiatives aimed at improving the management by hospital pharmacists of patients with congenital coagulopathies in the Spanish healthcare context. MethodA series of initiatives to improve the care of patients with congenital coagulopathies were identified, evaluated, and prioritized by a panel of hospital pharmacists. Prioritization was based on an assessment of each initiative's impact and feasibility on a scale of 1 to 5. Once initiatives were prioritized, those assigned the highest priority were grouped into three action areas. ResultsSeven areas of activity were identified in which the role of hospital pharmacists is key for the management of patients with congenital coagulopathies: coordination with the healthcare team; drug evaluation and selection; dispensing; patient information and education; pharmacotherapeutic follow-up; research and innovation in the field of congenital coagulopathies; and capacity-building and training of hospital pharmacists. Fifteen initiatives were considered a priority, with an average impact score ≥ 3.8 and a feasibility score ≥ 3.2. A total of, 29.4% of the prioritized initiatives corresponded to healthcare, 23.5% to patient information and education, 11.8% to drug evaluation and selection, 11.8% to pharmacotherapeutic monitoring, 11.8% to cross-sectional initiatives, 5.9% to dispensing and 5.9% to research and innovation in the field of congenital coagulopathies: In contrast, initiatives related to capacity-building and training were not prioritized. ConclusionsThree main action areas were proposed based on the initiatives identified as high priority for the management of patients with congenital coagulopathies by a panel of 16 hospital pharmacists. Action areas revolved around specific activities that hospital pharmacy departments can undertake to contribute to improving the healthcare situation in Spain.

Predictive factors of hyperglycemia in hospitalized adults receiving total parenteral nutrition

ObjectiveTo know those predictive factors of hyperglycemia that could guide us the design of a parenteral nutrition and it could avoid later complications associated with it. MethodsA prospective observational study was designed; adult hospitalized patients who received total parenteral nutrition at least 48 hours were included. Nutritional and pharmacotherapeutic follow-up were performed according to usual practice. Variables collected included demographic, clinical, analytical and nutrition and pharmacotherapy. ResultsFifty-eight patients were included, with 28 patients (48.3%) with glucose restriction. This intervention was statistically associated with elevated glycemia prior to parenteral nutrition (OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.11-1.73, p = 0.004) and BMI (OR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.58, p = 0.014), with more frequent intervention was in patients with BMI > 25 (overweight and obese) (OR: 10.00; 95% CI 1.15-86.95, p = 0.037). ConclusionsPre-parenteral glycemic values, diabetes and BMI values > 25 are predictors of hyperglycemia, so a early intervention to prevent and correct hyperglycemia may improve clinical outcomes in patients with parenteral nutrition.

Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy Position Statement on Telepharmacy: Recommendations for its implementation and development

The use of information and communication technologies have nowadays become part and parcel of hospital pharmacy practice. Against this background, it is hardly surprising that Telepharmacy has sparked the interest of a large number of stakeholders. In this respect, the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy has developed a definition of the concept and outlined the conditions under which Telepharmacy should operate. It has also shared its institutional stance on the subject through a position statement that states that Telepharmacy is the provision of pharmaceutical care at a distance through information and communication technologies. Telepharmacy practice includes activities such as therapeutic validation, drafting of clinical documents, provision of pharmaceutical care, therapeutic follow-up, adherence monitoring, drug education and information, coordination between healthcare providers and evaluation of health outcomes. The clinical tasks performed as part of Telepharmacy practice must adhere to a standardized procedure and revolve around the patient's clinical record. Access to Telepharmacy must be provided without discrimination. The service comprises four main activities: pharmacotherapeutic follow-up; patient and caregiver-directed education and information-dissemination; coordination with healthcare providers from the same or different hospitals; and remote informed home drug delivery. Implementation of Telepharmacy requires an adjustment of human (training and capacity-building) and technological resources (validation, interoperability, confidentiality). It must also comply with the laws and regulations in force both at a regional and a national level. Telepharmacy procedures must also be adapted to the relevant ethical standards and codes of good practice. Appropriate indicators must be used to evaluate the performance of Telepharmacy and its impact on health outcomes. According to Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy Telepharmacy is a necessary complementary tool to provide specialized pharmaceutical care and thereby improve health outcomes and maximize patient safety and satisfaction.

Assessment of adherence to treatment with injectable extended-release antipsychotics within a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program

ObjectiveTo describe an injectable extended-release antipsychotic pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program and to assess adherence among patients included in the program. MethodA coordinated program is described involving hospital and primary care pharmacy, which included electronic prescription, reviewing, and dispensing of injectable antipsychotic agents in mental health and primary health care centers. Adherence to treatment was assessed in a 1-month prospective observational cross-sectional study which included all patients under treatment with injectable extended-release antipsychotics in a health area of more than 500,000 inhabitants. The variables collected were: medication administered, frequency of administration, administration center, and whether or not the patient attended the center. Patients were considered to have adhered to treatment if they had attended their appointments within a margin of ± 7 days. ResultsA total of 919 patients and 1,073 appointments were included. Eleven mental health units and 40 primary health care centers participated in data collection. In 95.7 % (1,027) of cases, the patients attended the appointment. No differences were found in adherence between drugs or administration frequency. However, differences were found between mental health units and primary health care centers. Patient adherence was slightly higher in mental health units (97.6% vs 91.1%; P < 0.001). ConclusionsThe high adherence rate shows that the described follow-up program is effective. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm this trend.

A review of the pathophysiology and the role of ion channels on bronchial asthma.

Asthma is one of the main non-communicable chronic diseases and affects a huge portion of the population. It is a multifactorial disease, classified into several phenotypes, being the allergic the most frequent. The pathophysiological mechanism of asthma involves a Th2-type immune response, with high concentrations of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E, eosinophilia, hyperreactivity and airway remodeling. These mechanisms are orchestrated by intracellular signaling from effector cells, such as lymphocytes and eosinophils. Ion channels play a fundamental role in maintaining the inflammatory response on asthma. In particular, transient receptor potential (TRP), stock-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCs), Ca2+-activated K+ channels (IKCa and BKCa), calcium-activated chloride channel (TMEM16A), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) and purinergic P2X receptor (P2X). The recognition of the participation of these channels in the pathological process of asthma is important, as they become pharmacological targets for the discovery of new drugs and/or pharmacological tools that effectively help the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of this disease, as well as the more specific mechanisms involved in worsening asthma.

[Translated article] Implementation of the standardized process of drug therapy evaluation in inpatients and outpatients

ObjectivesThe Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program (PFU) carried out by the clinical pharmacist can be categorized within 3 fundamental activities; identification, resolution and prevention of adverse drug events. These must be adjusted to the requirements and resources of each institution, developing procedures to increase PFU efficiency and to guarantee patient safety. The clinical pharmacists of UC-CHRISTUS Healthcare Network developed a Standardized Pharmacotherapeutic Evaluation Process (SPEP). The main goal of our study is to evaluate the impact of this tool through the pharmacist evaluation number and pharmacist interventions number. Secondarily to determine the potential and direct cost savings associated with the pharmacist interventions in an Intensive care unit (ICU). MethodsA quasi-experimental study evaluated the frequency and type of pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions performed by clinical pharmacists in adult patients units of UC-CHRISTUS Healthcare Network, before and after the implementation of SPEP. The distribution of variables was evaluated using the Shapiro–Wilk test and the association between the use of SPEP and the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number was performed using the Chi-square test. The cost evaluation associated with pharmacist interventions in the ICU was carried out using methodology proposed by Hammond et al. ResultsA total number of 1781 patients was evaluated before and 2129 after the SPEP. The pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number in the before-SPEP period were 5209 and 2246. In the after-SPEP period were 6105 and 2641, respectively. The increase in both the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number was significant only in critical care patients. The potential cost saving in after-SPEP period in the ICU was USD 492,805. Major adverse drug events prevention was the intervention that generated the most savings with a reduction of 60.2%. The total direct savings for sequential therapy was USD 8072 in the study period. ConclusionsThis study shows a clinical pharmacist developed tool called SPEP that increased the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number in multiple clinical scenarios. These were significant only in critical care patients. Future investigations should make effort to evaluate the quality and clinical impact of these interventions.

Clinical, economic, and humanistic impact of a multidisciplinary medication review with follow-up for anticoagulated patients treated with vitamin K antagonists in primary care: A cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundInterdisciplinary collaboration between general practitioner, nurses and pharmacists can favour the control of patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA), increasing their safety and effectiveness. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical interventions on patients treated with VKA within the framework of a Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up service on clinical, economic and humanistic outcomes. MethodsControlled and randomized study in patients from two health areas of Zaragoza in treatment with VKA with Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) according to the Rosendaal method less than 70% in the last 6 months. Patients were recruited at the pharmacy and assigned to two groups: control and intervention. A Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up Program was established for the intervention group for 6 months. The outcome variables were INR stability, pharmacological adherence, vitamin K intake, knowledge about the use of acenocoumarol, quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, associated costs and avoided costs. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the Students' T test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for the association between quantitative variables and Chi-square or Fisher's test for qualitative variables. ResultsA total of 123 patients were included, 65 in the intervention group (IG) and 58 in the control group (CG). A total of 108 interventions were conducted (1.7 interventions/patient) and the most common were those related to the proper taking of medications (41.0%). In IG, TTR (p = 0.019), adherence to treatment (p = 0.038) and knowledge about acenocoumarol (p = 0.031) improved, compared to CG. A higher proportion of patients in IG achieved a TTR>65% (p = 0.024). In addition, patients whose interventions were accepted by the physician (p = 0.027) and those who received vitamin K optimization interventions (p = 0.003) achieved TTR>65% in greater proportion. ConclusionsCommunity pharmacist medication review, in collaboration with general practitioners improve knowledge and adherence of patients treated with oral anti-vitamin K agents and enhances the achievement of their therapeutic INR ranges. Investment needed to achieve this clinical impact is low and patient satisfaction is high. Trial registrationThis study has been registered with Clinical Trials.gov dated 25/05/2017: NCT03154489.

Clinical impact of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up and pharmacist interventions in a reference hospital in Mexico City

Background: Pharmacotherapeutic monitoring is a professional practice focused on identifying, preventing, and resolving drug-related problems (DRPs). Objective: To assess the clinical impact of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up (PFU) and pharmacist interventions in hospitalised patients at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. Methods: A retrospective, observational, descriptive study based on the information from two databases between July 2021 and June 2022 was conducted to calculate the risk reduction associated with pharmacist interventions on medical prescriptions. Results: The study involved 3015 patients who received care during the specified timeframe. The pharmacists provided 10130 attentions, including 5593 medication reconciliations, 16027 pharmacotherapeutic profiles, and 18542 assessments of prescription suitability. The pharmacists carried out 3628 interventions, of which 2282 were targeted at medical prescriptions. The results indicated an increase in risk reduction for accepted interventions, achieving a rate of 40.23%. Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions improved prescriptions, identified and prevented DRPs and medication errors, and enhanced medication safety by facilitating informed therapeutic decisions.

Implementación del Proceso Estandarizado de Evaluación Farmacoterapéutica en pacientes hospitalizados y ambulatorios

ObjectivesThe Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program (PFU) carried out by the clinical pharmacist can be categorized within 3 fundamental activities; identification, resolution and prevention of adverse drug events. These must be adjusted to the requirements and resources of each institution, developing procedures to increase PFU efficiency and to guarantee patient safety. The clinical pharmacists of UC-CHRISTUS Healthcare Network developed a Standardized Pharmacotherapeutic Evaluation Process (SPEP). The main goal of our study is to evaluate the impact of this tool through the pharmacist evaluation number and pharmacist interventions number. Secondarily to determine the potential and direct cost savings associated with the pharmacist interventions in an Intensive care unit (ICU). MethodsA quasi-experimental study evaluated the frequency and type of pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions performed by clinical pharmacists in adult patients units of UC-CHRISTUS Healthcare Network, before and after the implementation of SPEP. The distribution of variables was evaluated using the Shapiro–Wilk test and the association between the use of SPEP and the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number was performed using the Chi-square test. The cost evaluation associated with pharmacist interventions in the ICU was carried out using methodology proposed by Hammond et al. ResultsA total number of 1,781 patients was evaluated before and 2,129 after the SPEP. The pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number in the before-SPEP period were 5,209 and 2,246. In the after-SPEP period were 6,105 and 2,641, respectively. The increase in both the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number was significant only in critical care patients. The potential cost saving in after-SPEP period in the ICU was USD 492,805. Major adverse drug events prevention was the intervention that generated the most savings with a reduction of 60.2%. The total direct savings for sequential therapy was USD 8,072 in the study period. ConclusionsThis study shows a clinical pharmacist developed tool called SPEP that increased the pharmacist evaluation and pharmacist interventions number in multiple clinical scenarios. These were significant only in critical care patients. Future investigations should make effort to evaluate the quality and clinical impact of these interventions.

Contribution of Pharmaceutical Care to Person-centered Health Care and the Safety of Pharmacotherapy for Hospitalized Older Individuals in Brazil: An Investigative Single-arm Intervention Trial.

Adverse drug events (ADE) and medication errors (ME) provide large numbers of victims. Older people are more susceptible to these events, due to the continuing search for several chronic degenerative disease treatments. The Third Global Patient Safety Challenge announced the objective of reducing unnecessary polypharmacy, encouraging deprescription, and aiming to ensure the prescription of medications in an appropriate manner, based on the best evidence and taking into account the individual factors of people. To evaluate whether Pharmaceutical Care (PC), when inserted in a geriatric ward and the context of person-centered health care, cooperates with the safety of pharmacotherapy in older individuals in Brazil. This is an investigative, single-arm, preliminary study. individuals aged ≥60 years and admitted to the geriatric ward between August 2019 to January 2020. The PC (with the practice of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, medication reconciliation, and pharmacotherapy review) was made available to identify ADE and ME, as well as the associated factors and clinical outcomes, were analyzed. 60 participants were included. It was found that, on hospital admission, 93.3% of them were polymedicated and 86.7% had a history of using potentially inappropriate medications (PIM). ADE and ME were detected in 43 individuals (71.7%) and, in total, 115 incidents were identified, with drugs that act on the nervous system associated with them (31.9%). Acceptance of the PC's recommendations reached the rate of 85.2%. Polypharmacy (p=0.03) and the presence of multiple diseases (p=0.03) had an effect on the presentation of ADE and ME. The number of medications in use decreased in the comparison between admission and hospital discharge (p<0.0001). This investigative study indicated that ADE and ME are linked to the polypharmacy in use at the beginning of hospitalization. On the other hand, we showed that the PC (inserted in the multidisciplinary team) contributed to the deprescribing of medications at hospital discharge. Therefore, the PC can provide improvements in this scenario.

Problems related to oxygenotherapy in hospitalised adults: a systematic review

Objectives and methods: The objective of this study was to identify problems related to oxygen therapy in hospitalized adults in the literature. The systematic review was developed to identify problems related to oxygen therapy in hospitalised adults and classify them by means of an expert panel using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe, version 9.1. Results: Of the 2,618 articles initially identified for the systematic review, 18 met the eligibility criteria, of which five were carried out in Australia (5/18; 27.7%), and the most frequent study design was clinical trial (5/18; 27.7%). An analysis by the expert panel identified hyperoxia as the main cause of patients’ problems (17/18; 94.4%), and no DRP (drug-related problem) was classified as P1.1 (no treatment effect medication, despite the correct use) or P3.2 (unclear problem or complaint: further clarification is required). Studies show that problems related to oxygen therapy are mostly associated with high doses, often caused by failures in the care process such as errors in prescriptions and failures in administration and monitoring of use. Conclusions: the results reinforce the need for the involvement of all members of the multidisciplinary team in the care of patients on oxygen. In addition, the role of the pharmacist in establishing protocols for use with the team, in the standardisation of the system for prescribing medicinal gases, in the validation of medical prescriptions, and in the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up can contribute to the quality and safety of the services provided by health institutions.

PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC FOLLOW-UP OF A PATIENT WITH MULTIMORBITIES: EXPERIENCE REPORT

Chronic non-communicable diseases are growing global health problems. The objective of this study was to promote pharmaceutical care for a patient with multimorbidities in order to improve its quality of life. A pharmacotherapeutic follow-up was performed using the SOAP method, registered in the form of clinical evolution, along with laboratory tests, anthropometric measurements and application of validated instruments to assess pharmacological adherence, mental health and quality of life. The report deals with a female patient, 55 years old, obese and dyslipidemic, sedentary, hypertensive, diabetic and on the control phase of breast cancer. Self-medication with antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor was identified. Despite the good pharmacological adherence, the patient had decompensated diabetes, accompanied by dyslipidemia without treatment and interruption of supplements. After pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, the patient showed a significant improvement in the reduction of anthropometric measurements and in biochemical parameters. At the end of the follow-up, pharmaceutical care proved to be fundamental in identifying the patient's health problems, contributing to obtain a more rational pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of patients on warfarin in primary care: randomized clinical trial

Aim: To evaluate the impact of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up on bleeding, time in therapeutic range (TTR), thrombotic events, general adverse events, hospitalizations, drug interactions and average number of medications used in patients taking warfarin in the Brazilian public healthcare system. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with individuals divided into two groups (intervention group [pharmacotherapeutic follow-up] and control group) who received at-home visits over an eight-month period. Results: 38individuals (21 in the intervention group and 17 in the control group) concluded the study. Fewer number of cases of bleeding was found in the group that received pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, but no significant association was found between these variables. No significant association was found between pharmacotherapeutic follow-up and TTR. The intervention group had a greater frequency in the therapeutic range for capillary INR but not for laboratory INR. Reductions were found in the intervention group with regards to general adverse events, the use of medications and drug interactions, whereas no reduction was found in hospitalizations. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, pharmacotherapeutic follow-up did not exert an influence on bleeding or TTR. However, reductions were found in adverse events and drug interactions, which can contribute to the rational use of medicines and could result in lower care costs for patients requiring blood thinners

Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes in context of judicialization: possibility optimize costs

Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes in context of judicialization: possibility optimize costs