Concordance analysis of two databases to search for potential drug interactions in onco-hematologic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Potential drug interactions exert a significant impact on patient safety, especially within intricate onco-hematological treatments, potentially resulting in toxicity or treatment failures. Despite the availability of databases for potential drug interaction investigation, persistent heterogeneity in concordance rates and classifications exists. The additional variability in database agreement poses further complexity, notably in critical contexts like onco-hematology. AIM: To analyze the concordance of two databases for researching potential drug interaction in prescriptions for hematological patients at a University Hospital in the Midwest region of Brazil. METHOD: Cross-sectional study developed in a Brazilian hospital. The search for potential drug interaction was conducted in Micromedex® and UpToDate®. The variables were: the presence of potential drug interaction, severity, mechanism, management, and documentation. Data was analyzed in terms of frequency (absolute and relative), Cohen's kappa, and Fleiss kappa. RESULTS: The presence of potential drug interaction, showed a lack of concordance between the databases (k = -0.115 [95% CI: 0.361-0.532], p = 0.003). Regarding the mechanism, a strong agreement was observed (k = 0.805, p < 0.001 [95% CI: 0.550-0.941]). The management concordance showed a fair agreement, 46.8% (k = 0.22, p < 0.001 [95% CI: 0.099-0.341]). Stratifying the categories, significant concordance was observed in "Adjustment of dose + Monitoring" (k = 0.302, p = 0.018) and "Monitoring" (k = 0.417, p = 0.001), while other categories did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the variability in potential drug interaction research, revealing disparities in severity classification, management recommendations, and documentation practices across databases.

"A lack of information keeps us from medicine, well-being, harmony ": a mixed method study with plaintiffs requesting medicines in administrative cases. / "A falta de informação nos afasta do remédio, do bem-estar, da harmonia...": estudo de método misto com demandantes de medicamentos pela via administrativa.

The need to request public health managers to ensure the right of access to medicines characterizes an administrative case and the method to do so is called the administrative route. This mixed method study aimed to analyze the perceptions of plaintiffs requesting medications by the administrative route about barriers to access medicines in the Brazilian public health sector. Data were gathered through focus groups and questionnaires. The results point to the interdependence of pharmaceutical services with the interfacing areas to ensure access. The barriers related to individuals reflect the commitment to develop citizenship, justifying the cost of the medicine to motivate the demand. Barriers to service provision include irregular availability of medicines, insufficient resources, and unsatisfactory quality of services. The difficulty in obtaining medical consultations and prescriptions originating in the public sector are barriers to the health sector. The barriers above the health sector are compliance with administrative procedures, corruption, and clientelism. The administrative route intensifies inequities in access to healthcare in Brazil.

A necessidade de recorrer ao gestor público de saúde para efetivar o direito ao acesso a medicamentos caracteriza a via administrativa. O estudo analisou as percepções dos usuários que acionaram a via administrativa sobre as barreiras para o acesso a medicamentos no setor público de saúde de uma capital brasileira. Foi realizado estudo de método misto com grupo focal, questionário com demandantes e descrição dos medicamentos demandados pela via administrativa. Os resultados apontam a interdependência da assistência farmacêutica com as áreas de interfaceamento para a garantia do acesso. As barreiras relativas aos indivíduos refletem o comprometimento do desenvolvimento da cidadania, justificando o custo do medicamento motivar a demanda. As barreiras à prestação dos serviços contemplam disponibilidade irregular dos medicamentos, insuficiência de recursos e qualidade insatisfatória dos serviços. A dificuldade para conseguir consultas médicas e a exigência da prescrição originada no setor público são barreiras ao setor saúde. As barreiras acima do setor saúde são cumprimento dos procedimentos administrativos, corrupção e clientelismo. A via administrativa intensifica as iniquidades no acesso à saúde no Brasil.

"A falta de informação nos afasta do remédio, do bem-estar, da harmonia... ": estudo de método misto com demandantes de medicamentos pela via administrativa / "A lack of information keeps us from medicine, well-being, harmony... ": a mixed method study with plaintiffs requesting medicines in administrative cases

Resumo A necessidade de recorrer ao gestor público de saúde para efetivar o direito ao acesso a medicamentos caracteriza a via administrativa. O estudo analisou as percepções dos usuários que acionaram a via administrativa sobre as barreiras para o acesso a medicamentos no setor público de saúde de uma capital brasileira. Foi realizado estudo de método misto com grupo focal, questionário com demandantes e descrição dos medicamentos demandados pela via administrativa. Os resultados apontam a interdependência da assistência farmacêutica com as áreas de interfaceamento para a garantia do acesso. As barreiras relativas aos indivíduos refletem o comprometimento do desenvolvimento da cidadania, justificando o custo do medicamento motivar a demanda. As barreiras à prestação dos serviços contemplam disponibilidade irregular dos medicamentos, insuficiência de recursos e qualidade insatisfatória dos serviços. A dificuldade para conseguir consultas médicas e a exigência da prescrição originada no setor público são barreiras ao setor saúde. As barreiras acima do setor saúde são cumprimento dos procedimentos administrativos, corrupção e clientelismo. A via administrativa intensifica as iniquidades no acesso à saúde no Brasil.

Abstract The need to request public health managers to ensure the right of access to medicines characterizes an administrative case and the method to do so is called the administrative route. This mixed method study aimed to analyze the perceptions of plaintiffs requesting medications by the administrative route about barriers to access medicines in the Brazilian public health sector. Data were gathered through focus groups and questionnaires. The results point to the interdependence of pharmaceutical services with the interfacing areas to ensure access. The barriers related to individuals reflect the commitment to develop citizenship, justifying the cost of the medicine to motivate the demand. Barriers to service provision include irregular availability of medicines, insufficient resources, and unsatisfactory quality of services. The difficulty in obtaining medical consultations and prescriptions originating in the public sector are barriers to the health sector. The barriers above the health sector are compliance with administrative procedures, corruption, and clientelism. The administrative route intensifies inequities in access to healthcare in Brazil.

Impediments to deprescription in Brazil: overview from a panel of geriatrics experts / Os condicionantes à desprescrição no Brasil: o panorama de um painel de especialistas em geriatria

Objectives: To identify impediments to deprescription among older adults from the perspective of a panel of Brazilian geriatricians. Methods: The Delphi method was used to obtain a consensus among Brazilian geriatricians about the factors that influence the lack of deprescription for older adults in clinical practice. The study was developed in two stages: (i) a survey and description of potential factors involved in deprescription; and (ii) applying the results of the survey to a panel of experts to obtain a consensus. Results: The deprescription process is influenced by the interaction of three pillars of older adult health care: the prescriber, the patient-family, and the health care system. In the professional and health care systems, professional training and communication skills, prolonged clinical follow-up, access to the multidisciplinary team, medical consultations of an adequate time, and unified electronic health records were identified as facilitators of deprescription. In the patient-family pillar, clear facilitators included health literacy, no sensory or cognitive deficits, and a clinical situation of transitional or palliative care. Conclusions: Deprescription is a complex, multifactorial process that requires attention, time, and specific skills and competencies from the attending physician, but it also requires shared decision-making and a health system compatible with a culture of deprescription.

Objetivos: Identificar os fatores condicionantes para a desprescrição em idosos na perspectiva consensual de um grupo de geriatras brasileiros. Metodologia: Foi utilizado o método Delphi para a obtenção de um consenso entre médicos geriatras brasileiros sobre os fatores que condicionam a desprescrição na assistência à saúde do idoso, na prática clínica. O estudo desenvolveu-se em duas etapas: (i) levantamento e descrição dos potenciais fatores envolvidos na prática da desprescrição; e (ii) submissão do levantamento realizado na etapa anterior a um painel de especialistas para a obtenção do consenso. Resultados: O processo de desprescrição é influenciado pela interação de três pilares da assistência à saúde do idoso: o prescritor, o paciente-família e o sistema de saúde. Como elementos de destaque, verificou-se que tanto a capacitação profissional, a habilidade em comunicação e o acompanhamento clínico prolongado do paciente quanto o acesso à equipe multidisciplinar, o tempo adequado para a consulta médica e o registro eletrônico único em saúde foram apontados como facilitadores à desprescrição, conforme os pilares do profissional e do sistema de saúde. Sob o pilar do paciente- família, os facilitadores evidenciados foram a literacia em saúde, a ausência de déficits sensoriais ou cognitivos, a situação clínica de cuidados de transição ou cuidados paliativos. Conclusões: A desprescrição é um processo complexo, multifatorial, que exige atenção, tempo, habilidades e competências específicas do médico assistente, mas requer decisão compartilhada e um sistema de saúde coadunável com a cultura de desprescrever

Institutional strategies as a mechanism to rationalize the negative effects of the judicialization of access to medicine in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the Executive Branch and Judiciary in Brazil increased spending due to larger numbers of lawsuits that forced the State to provide health goods and services. This phenomenon, known as health judicialization, has created challenges and required the Executive Branch and Judiciary to create institutional strategies such as technical chambers and departments to reduce the social, economic and political distortions caused by this phenomenon. This study aims to evaluate the effects of two institutional strategies deployed by a Brazilian municipality in order to cope with the economic, social and political distortions caused by the phenomenon of health judicialization regarding access to medicines. METHODS: A longitudinal study was carried out in a capital in the Central-West Region of Brazil. A sample of 511 lawsuits was analyzed. The variables were placed into three groups: the sociodemographic characteristics and the plaintiffs' disease, the characteristics of the claimed medical products and the institutional strategies. To analyze the effect of the interventions on the total cost of the medicines in the lawsuits, bivariate and multivariate linear regressions with variance were performed. For the categorical outcomes, Poisson regressions were performed with robust variance, using a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: A reduction in the costs of medicines in the lawsuits and of the requests for medicines within the SUS formulary was verified after the deployment of the Department of Assessment of Nonstandardized Medicines (DAMNP) and the Technical Chamber of Health Assessment (CATS); an increase in processed prescriptions from the Brazilian Universal Health System was observed after the deployment of the CATS; and an increase in medicines outside the SUS formulary without a therapeutic alternative was verified after the CATS. CONCLUSION: The institutional strategies deployed were important tools to reduce the high costs of the medicines in the lawsuits. In addition, they represented a step forward for the State, provided a benefit to society and indicated a potential path for the health and justice systems of other countries that also face problems caused by the judicialization of health.

Pharmaceutical intervention in the rational use of intravenous omeprazole.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the pharmaceutical interventions of a vertical clinical pharmacy service to promote the rational use of intravenous omeprazole. METHODS: A prospective and descriptive study carried out at a university hospital in the Midwestern Region of Brazil, from November 2014 to May 2015. The service consisted of the analysis of adequacy of the route of administration of omeprazole in relation to the clinical conditions of the patient, as well as the use of the appropriate diluent. Interventions were recorded in medical records and subsequently evaluated for acceptance. RESULTS: A total of 770 prescriptions were evaluated. Interventions related to diluent replacement were more accepted (p<0.001), and surgeons were the specialty that used the intravenous route inappropriately (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although partially accepted, pharmaceutical interventions could contribute to improve patient safety, since they allowed the use of a safer route of administration.

Evaluation of a method for drug-related problems identification and classification in hospital setting: applicability and reliability.

Background Prescription evaluation by pharmacists has potential to improve pharmacotherapy management. It requires the use of robust methods to identify drug-related problems (DRP), which are important issues in pharmacotherapy. Objective To evaluate the applicability and reliability of Grupo de Investigação em Cuidados Farmacêuticos (GIGUF) method for prescription analysis, identification and classification of drug-related problems in inpatients prescriptions. Setting Department of Medical Clinic of a tertiary and teaching Brazilian hospital. Method An observational and retrospective study of identification and classification of drug-related problems. GIGUF method was used to evaluate prescriptions of hematological patients hospitalized between August and October 2015. The problems were categorized using GICUF-method classification. Three pharmacists performed inter-rater agreement analysis of the method using Kappa. Differences in prevalence of DRP was calculated by age, sex, pharmacotherapy complexity, length of stay and number of drugs. Main outcome measure (a) frequency and characteristics and (b) inter-rater agreement in identification and classification of the drug-related problems. Results A total of 211 problems were identified and 'inadequate dosing' was the most common problem. There was an association between the occurence of a drug-reklated problem and complexity of pharmacotherapy (p = 0.001) and number of drugs used (p = 0.010). The overall inter-rater agreement was moderate (k = 0.44 IC 95% 0.34-0.55) and the problem 'not suitable drug' (k = 0.55 IC 95% 0.44-0.66) had greater inter-rater agreement. Conclusion The method "Evaluation Drug Use Process" was useful for prescription analysis since it made the identification and classification of DRPs possible. The method demonstrated a moderate inter-rater agreement, and can contribute to pharmacotherapy management by hospital pharmacists.

Pharmaceutical intervention in the rational use of intravenous omeprazole / Intervenção farmacêutica no uso racional de omeprazol intravenoso

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the pharmaceutical interventions of a vertical clinical pharmacy service to promote the rational use of intravenous omeprazole. Methods: A prospective and descriptive study carried out at a university hospital in the Midwestern Region of Brazil, from November 2014 to May 2015. The service consisted of the analysis of adequacy of the route of administration of omeprazole in relation to the clinical conditions of the patient, as well as the use of the appropriate diluent. Interventions were recorded in medical records and subsequently evaluated for acceptance. Results: A total of 770 prescriptions were evaluated. Interventions related to diluent replacement were more accepted (p<0.001), and surgeons were the specialty that used the intravenous route inappropriately (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although partially accepted, pharmaceutical interventions could contribute to improve patient safety, since they allowed the use of a safer route of administration.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as intervenções farmacêuticas de um serviço farmacêutico clínico vertical, para a promoção do uso racional do omeprazol intravenoso. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo e descritivo realizado em um hospital universitário da região Centro-Oeste do Brasil, no período de novembro de 2014 a maio de 2015. O serviço consistia na análise da adequabilidade da via de administração do omeprazol em relação às condições clínicas do paciente, bem como a utilização do diluente adequado. As intervenções eram registradas em prontuário e, posteriormente, avaliadas quanto à aceitação. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 770 prescrições. As intervenções relacionadas à substituição do diluente foram mais aceitas (p<0,001), e os cirurgiões foram a especialidade que utilizou a via intravenosa de maneira inadequada (p<0,001). Conclusão: Embora parcialmente aceitas, as intervenções farmacêuticas puderam contribuir com a melhoria da segurança dos pacientes, uma vez que permitiram a utilização de uma via de administração mais segura.

Administrative cases: an effective alternative to lawsuits in assuring access to medicines?

BACKGROUND: Although public policy in Brazil supports access to essential medicines, the health system cannot meet all demand. Increasingly, the population has used legal demands to seek access to medicines, an approach that can undermine equitable access by creating policy inconsistencies (e.g., granting access to medicines outside the SUS formulary). In response, the Executive Branch has signed institutional agreements to create an administrative case for submitting requests for medicines directly to the Executive Branch. The objective of this study was to assess the degree to which the administrative cases for requests are in accordance with public policies and guidelines, e.g., if administrative cases results in fewer decisions to purchase outside the SUS formulary. METHODS: This descriptive study used secondary data from lawsuits filed against the Executive Branch from 2003 to 2015 and from administrative cases granted by the Executive Branch from 2010 to 2015 in the capital of a state located in the central-western region of Brazil. The variables included plaintiffs' sociodemographic characteristics and diseases as well as the characteristics of the medical products sought via the processes. RESULTS: Comparing the requests submitted through lawsuits and the administrative cases revealed differences in the incomes of plaintiffs and the costs of medicines. Both methods for submission recorded requests for medicines for diseases of endocrine and circulatory systems; the only difference was the prevalence of diseases of the genitourinary system in the lawsuits. A higher proportion of lawsuits sought medicines outside the SUS formulary with therapeutic alternatives, while medicines outside the SUS formulary without an alternative were more commonly requested in administrative cases. CONCLUSION: Administrative cases adhere to the public policies and guidelines of the SUS. The administrative cases results in fewer decisions to purchase outside the SUS formulary with alternative, and more decisions to purchase drugs for which there is a formulary alternative. In addition, administrative cases provide greater equity by favoring lower income applicants. However, administrative cases also reveal deficiencies in the State's implementation of existing pharmaceutical policies. The public pressure for effective implementation of existing policies may help expand access to medicines.

Impact of a drug dispensing model at a Community Pharmacy in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Although dispensing of medication has been addressed by theoretical models, studies that confirm the impact of this service are still needed. The objective was to evaluate the impact of a new model of medicine dispensing system on patients' medication knowledge, adherence to treatment and satisfaction. One hundred and four patients attending the dispensing service of a community pharmacy between 21 January 2013 and 20 April 2013 were included in this intervention study. The impact of the service on patients' medication knowledge, adherence to treatment and satisfaction was assessed by using validated questionnaires at two time points: at the moment of medication dispensing and 30 days thereafter by telephone contact. Statistical analysis was performed by McNemar's test, and a p<0.05 was set as statistically significant. The number of patients showing insufficient knowledge about medications decreased by 50% (p < 0.05), and the number of those showing sufficient knowledge was three times greater (p < 0.05) after medicine dispensing. A high level of satisfaction was observed. Improvement of medication adherence, however, was not observed. The proposed system model for drug dispensing improved patients' knowledge about medication and satisfaction

Arranjos institucionais no contexto da judicialização da saúde: avanços e desafios

Introdução: O fenômeno da judicialização da saúde no Brasil trouxe alguns desafios à gestão do sistema de saúde, em especial a assistência farmacêutica, e passou a exigir uma atuação das instituições políticas e jurídicas para racionalizar as demandas judiciais por medicamentos e garantir o acesso integral à saúde. Este artigo propõe identificar e discutir o contexto que levaram estes agentes à criarem arranjos institucionais e os seus principais avanços, em uma capital da região centro-oeste do Brasil. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo de caso de abordagem qualitativa, em que os dados foram coletados por meio de pesquisa documental e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Resultados e discussão: Identificou-se sete arranjos institucionais criados como mecanismo de solucionar os problemas na gestão da assistência farmacêutica, de oferecer assessoria técnica para análise das demandas judiciais e promover o diálogo e aproximação entre as instituições. Além disso, a criação dos arranjos detectou algumas falhas na implementação das políticas públicas atuais com a possibilidade de serem corrigidas. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que a gestão do sistema de saúde deveria atender as necessidades dos usuários do sistema de saúde de forma integral, sem a necessidade de criar novos caminhos dentro das próprias instituições.

Potential drug-drug interactions in older adults: A population-based study.

AIM: To evaluate the potential drug-drug interactions (PDDI) between drugs used by older adults, any associated factors and recommended clinical management. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out through a home survey of 934 older adults (from December 2009 to April 2010). A questionnaire was applied, and the participants were asked to show all the drugs used and their respective prescriptions, thus providing data to identify polypharmacy, self-medication and PDDI. PDDI, their consequences, severity and clinical management were identified using Micromedex. RESULTS: Overall, 2846 drugs and 665 PDDI were identified, 71.0% of which were moderate and 22.4% serious. The prevalence of PDDI was 36.9%. Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index were involved in 17.0% of the PDDI. The variables female sex (PR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.20), age ≥80 years (PR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.03-1.28), no polypharmacy (PR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.67-0.78) and no hospitalization in the past year (PR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.97) remained associated with the presence of three or more PDDI in the final multivariate analysis model. CONCLUSIONS: Most PDDI were related to routinely used drugs (enalapril, hydrochlorothiazide, calcium, captopril, levothyroxine and simvastatin), and more than one-third of the older adults were exposed to PDDI with the possible risk of serious health consequences. Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index were involved in several PDDI, with increased risk of toxicity. The clinical management procedures most recommended are dose adjustment and dosing changes, control of the drugs' serum levels, and monitoring of the clinical conditions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2336-2346.

Reações Adversas a Medicamentos e Farmacovigilância: Conhecimentos e Condutas de Profissionais de Saúde de um Hospital da Rede Sentinela / Pharmacovigilance: Professional Knowledge and Conduct at a Teaching Hospital

RESUMO Introdução As reações adversas a medicamentos são objeto de estudo da farmacovigilância, ciência que utiliza, sobretudo, as notificações espontâneas feitas por profissionais de saúde. Há dificuldade de reconhecimento dos profissionais quanto a sua importância na segurança do paciente. As causas da subnotificação são atribuídas a falta de conhecimentos, percepção e compreensão dos incidentes. Objetivo Identificar o conhecimento e as condutas dos profissionais de saúde de um hospital de ensino em relação às reações adversas a medicamentos e à farmacovigilância e se há associação com o seu perfil profissiográfico. Métodos Estudo transversal, utilizando-se um instrumento validado que aborda questões sobre caracterização da população estudada, conhecimentos e condutas. Resultados Os médicos demonstraram maior conhecimento sobre reações adversas a medicamentos, e os técnicos em enfermagem, menor. No entanto, o entendimento sobre farmacovigilância foi maior entre os farmacêuticos. O tempo de formação e atuação na instituição está associado ao conhecimento sobre as reações adversas a medicamentos Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram que a formação do profissional influencia seu conhecimento e condutas frente às reações adversas a medicamentos.

ABSTRACT Introduction Adverse Drug Reactions are studied by the science of pharmacovigilance, which makes particular use of spontaneous reports made by health professionals, although such professionals experience difficulties in recognizing adverse reactions and their importance in patient safety. The causes of underreporting are attributed to a lack of knowledge, awareness and understanding of incidents. Objective Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated instrument in order to characterize the population under study, determining its knowledge and behaviors Results: Doctors demonstrated a greater knowledge of adverse drug reactions than nursing technicians; however an understanding of pharmacovigilance was higher among pharmacists. The length of time spent in training and working in an institution were also associated with a knowledge of adverse drug reactions Conclusion The results of this study show that professional training influences knowledge and behaviors on adverse drug reactions.

Acesso ao medicamento: perspectivas de pessoas que recorreram à via judicial / Acceso al medicamento: perspectivas de personas que recurrieron a la vía judicial / Access to medication: the perspectives of people who resort to judicial proceedings

RESUMO Trata-se de um estudo de caso interpretativo desenvolvido com o objetivo de descrever as experiências de pessoas que recorreram à via judicial para ter acesso a medicamentos no Sistema Único de Saúde. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada nos domicílios de oito pessoas que recorreram a essa via, residentes em um município localizado no sudoeste do Estado de Goiás. A experiência de acesso ao medicamento foi marcada por barreiras que estão interligadas aos diversos níveis do sistema de saúde; envolvem aspectos organizacionais e assistenciais relacionados à informação, ao acolhimento e à resolutividade. A necessidade do tratamento contínuo da condição crônica e a dificuldade financeira foram os fatores determinantes para que os participantes recorressem à justiça. Observou-se a necessidade de aprimorar o acolhimento e a comunicação entre a equipe de saúde envolvida no acesso ao medicamento e de qualificar os profissionais da saúde para uma compreensão ampliada da assistência farmacêutica no Sistema Único de Saúde.

RESUMEN Se trata de un estudio de caso interpretativo desarrollado con el objetivo de describirlas experiencias de personas que recurrieron a la vía judicial para tener acceso a medicamentos en el Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevista semiestructurada en los domicilios de ocho personas que recurrieron a esta vía, residentes en un municipio ubicado en el sudoeste del Estado de Goiás. La experiencia de acceso al medicamento fue marcada por obstáculos que están interconectados a los diversos niveles del sistema de salud; involucran aspectos organizacionales y asistenciales relacionados a la información, acogiday resolutividad. La necesidad del tratamiento continuo de la condición crónica yla dificultad financiera fueron los factores determinantes para que los participantes recurrieran a la justicia. Se observól a necesidad de perfeccionar la acogiday comunicación entre el equipo de salud involucrado en el acceso al medicamento y de calificar a los profesionales de la salud para una comprensión ampliada de la asistencia farmacéutica en el Sistema Único de Salud.

ABSTRACT The present study is an interpretative case study developed to describe the experiences of people who have resorted to judicial proceedings to gain access to medications in the Unified Health System. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in the homes of eight individuals who have used this approach, who lived in a city in the southwest of the State of Goiás. The experience of access to medications was marked by barriers that are interconnected to the different levels of the health system; they involve organizational and assistance aspects related to information, embracement and resolution. The need for continued treatment of chronic conditions and financial difficulties were the determining factors for participants to resort to judicial proceedings. The need to improve embracement and communication among the health teams involved in access to medications, and to qualify health professionals for a broader understanding of pharmaceutical care in the Unified Health System, was observed.

Medication dispensing as an opportunity for patient counseling and approach to drug-related problems

ABSTRACT The objective was to describe and evaluate a model of drug dispensing developed and implemented in a community pharmacy in Brazil. This was a descriptive, observational, quasi-experimental study performed in the period between 21 January 2013 and 20 April 2013. The model was evaluated and described in terms of three parameters: structure, process and outcome. The description and assessment of each parameter was performed as follows: (I) Structure: profile of patients, pharmacist's professional profile, physical facility, informational material; (II) Process: drug-related problems, pharmaceutical interventions performed, results of pharmaceutical interventions; (III) Outcome: patient knowledge of medications. Dispensing service improved patient knowledge of medications (p < 0.05), which was associated with pharmacotherapy complexity (p < 0.05). The main problems identified were related to lack of patient knowledge regarding their medication (52.9%). Pharmaceutical interventions were mostly performed directly to the patients (86.3%) by verbal (95.4%) and written (68.2%) information, and most of the problems were completely solved (62.7%). The medicine dispensing model was able to identify and solve drug-related problems and promote an improvement in patient knowledge about medication.

RESUMO O objetivo foi descrever e avaliar um modelo de serviço de dispensação de medicamentos desenvolvido e implantado em uma Farmácia Comunitária no Brasil. Trata-se de restudo descritivo, observacional e quase-experimental, realizado no período de 21 de janeiro a 20 de abril de 2013. A descrição e avaliação do modelo foi realizada segundo os parâmetros: estrutura, processo e resultado.Os aspectos descritos e avaliados foram: 1. Estrutura: perfil dos pacientes, perfil profissiográfico dos farmacêuticos, estrutura física, material de informação; 2. Processo: problemas relacionados ao medicamento detectados, intervenções farmacêuticas realizadas, resultados das intervenções farmacêuticas; 3. Resultado: conhecimento do pacientes sobre os medicamentos utilizados. A dispensação proporcionou melhora do conhecimento do paciente sobre os medicamentos (p < 0,05), que demonstrou-se associada à complexidade da farmacoterapia (p < 0,05). Foram identificados majoritariamente problemas relacionados à falta de condições do paciente em utilizar o medicamento (52,94%). As intervenções farmacêuticas foram realizadas predominantemente junto ao paciente (86,27%) através do fornecimento de informações verbais (95,4%) e escritas (68,2%) e, em sua maioria, o problema que originou a intervenção foi totalmente resolvido (62,75%).O serviço foi capaz de identificar e resolver os problemas relacionados ao medicamento e contribuiu para a melhoria do conhecimento dos pacientes relativo aos medicamentos utilizados.

Avaliação do serviço de saúde prestado aos pacientes diabéticos em uma unidade de saúde de Goiânia-GO / Evaluation of the health service provided to diabetic patients at health units in Goiânia, GO

O diabetes mellitus é uma síndrome de etiologia múltipla e um dos principais agravos de saúde pública no Brasil. O controle desse agravo nos serviços básicos é fundamental, em virtude de sua magnitude crescente, transcendência e complexa vulnerabilidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o tratamento e acompanhamento de pacientes diabéticos, segundo as recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes (SBD), em duas unidades básicas de saúde do município de Goiânia ? GO. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da revisão de prontuários médicos referentes ao período de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2009, totalizando 250 prontuários, consolidados no software Epi InfoTM . Houve maior frequência de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (96,65%) em relação ao tipo 1. Em 78% dos prontuários, havia descrição de hipertensão arterial e, destes, 77,4% tinham prescrição de IECA, e em 30,4% dos prontuários havia prescrição de AAS. Em média, pequena porcentagem de prontuários atendeu às recomendações da SBD: quase 50% dos pacientes estavam com pressão arterial controlada na unidade UBESF ?A? e 35%, na unidade UBESF ?B?; cerca de 25% estavam com LDL inferior a 100mg/dL em ambas as unidades e aproximadamente 25% dos prontuários da unidade UBESF ?B? tinham HbA1c inferior a 7%, e 18%, na UBESF ?A?. Quanto ao estudo de utilização de medicamentos, 41,1% dos prontu- ários tinham prescrição de metformina e um secretagogo, e apenas 20,4% dos pacientes com HbA1c>9% tinham prescrição de insulina.

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome of multiple etiology and a major public health problem in Brazil. The control of this disease in basic services is crucial because of its growing magnitude, transcendence, and complex vulnerability. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the treatment and monitoring of diabetic patients according to the Brazilian Diabetes Society guidelines in two basic health units (UBESFs) in the city of Goiânia/GO. Data were collected by review of medical records from January 2007 to December 2009, resulting in 250 records, consolidated in the Epi InfoTM software. There was a higher frequency of diabetes mellitus type 2 (96.65%) compared to type 1. In 78% of the records, arterial hypertension had been detected and of these, 77.4% had a prescription for ACE inhibitors. In 30.4% of the records, aspirin had been prescribed. On average, a small percentage of the medical records met the recommendations of the Brazilian Diabetes Society: almost 50% of the patients had controlled blood pressure in UBESF unit ?A? and over 35% in UBESF unit ?B?; about 25% had LDL less than 100mg/dL in both units, and approximately 25% had HbA1c below 7% in UBESF unit ?B? and 18% in UBESF unit ?A?. As to the study of medication use, 41.1% of the records had prescriptions for metformin and a secretagogue, and only 20.4% of the patients with HbA1c >9% had an insulin prescription.

Social inequalities in lawsuits for drugs

The aim of this study was to characterize the lawsuits requesting drugs considering the economic profile of their petitioners. All lawsuits (1378) accepted against Goiânia, GO from 2003 to 2007 were analyzed. Petitioners' demographic characteristics, reported diseases, requested drugs, origin of healthcare service, and lawsuit agent were described. Complainants' addresses were georeferenced and distributed into 4 regional groups classified in accordance with the population's average income. Dwellers of wealthier regions filed court actions requesting drugs more frequently, with an average rate of 1.7 lawsuits/1000 inhabitants versus 0.55/1000 in the poorer region. Lawsuit costs were 4-fold higher in wealthier regions compared with the poorest region. Chronic diseases were involved in most lawsuits, where acute and low complexity diseases predominated among complainants living in poorer regions. Thus, social differences were reflected in the granting of health rights.

Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar as ações judiciais que solicitaram medicamentos considerando o perfil econômico de seus impetrantes. Foram analisadas as ações judiciais deferidas contra Goiânia, GO, no período de 2003 a 2007, totalizando 1378. Descreveram-se as características demográficas dos impetrantes, as doenças relatadas, os medicamentos solicitados, a origem do serviço de assistência e o condutor da ação. Os endereços dos impetrantes foram geoprocessados e distribuídos em quatro grupos classificados de acordo com a renda média da população. Foi observado que os moradores de regiões ricas impetraram mais ações, 1,7 ações/1000 habitantes em comparação com 0,55/1000 na região mais pobre. Os custos das ações judiciais também foram maiores nessas regiões, sendo quatro vezes mais caros dos que as das regiões mais pobres. As doenças crônicas estavam presentes na maioria das ações; entre os impetrantes que moravam em regiões mais pobres, as doenças agudas e de menor complexidade tiveram mais destaque. Assim, as diferenças sociais são refletidas na concessão do direito à saúde.

Pharmaceutical Care for hypertensive patients provided within the Family Health Strategy in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

The aim of Pharmaceutical Care programs is to improve patients' quality of life, and such programs are particularly effective in the case of chronic diseases such as hypertension. The objective of this longitudinal study was to analyze a Pharmaceutical Care model for hypertensive patients receiving care within the Family Health Strategy (FHS). All patients were being seen by an FHS team affiliated to a primary healthcare unit in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Fourteen patients participated in the study, with each patient receiving six home visits during the Pharmaceutical Care. Overall, 142 drug-related problems were reported, the most common concerning the ineffectiveness of treatment (33.8%). A total of 135 pharmaceutical interventions were performed, 92.6% of which involved pharmacist-patient communication, with 48.8% of these interventions being implemented. Cardiovascular risk decreased in three patients and remained unchanged in nine. In hypertensive patients with diabetes, fasting glucose levels were reduced in six out of nine cases. The Pharmaceutical Care model proposed here was effective in detecting drug-related problems and in proposing interventions to resolve or prevent these problems. Consequently, this may have contributed towards improving clinical parameters, such as fasting glucose levels and cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients receiving care within the FHS.

A Atenção Farmacêutica tem como objetivo conseguir resultados concretos que melhorem a qualidade de vida do paciente, contribuindo especialmente em doenças crônicas, como a Hipertensão Arterial. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar um modelo de Atenção Farmacêutica a pacientes com Hipertensão Arterial assistidos pela Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal realizado com pacientes assistidos pela ESF de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de Goiânia-GO. Participaram do estudo, 14 pacientes que receberam seis visitas domiciliares para Atenção Farmacêutica. Registraram-se 142 Problemas Relacionados a Medicamentos (PRM) sendo mais frequente a falta de efetividade do tratamento (33,8%). Realizaram-se 135 intervenções farmacêuticas, das quais 92,6% foram com a comunicação farmacêutico-paciente, em que 48,8% das intervenções foram implementadas. Observou-se redução do risco cardiovascular em três pacientes e nove pacientes não apresentaram alteração no nível de risco cardiovascular. Entre os pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos observou-se redução da glicemia de jejum em seis. O modelo de Atenção Farmacêutica proposto foi capaz de detectar PRM propondo intervenções para resolvê-los e preveni-los e, consequentemente, pode ter contribuído na melhora de parâmetros clínicos como glicemia de jejum e risco cardiovascular em pacientes hipertensos assistidos pela ESF.

Atenção farmacêutica em Goiânia: inserção do farmacêutico na estratégia saúde da família / Pharmaceutical care in Goiânia: inclusion of the pharmacist in the family health strategy

Com vistas no estabelecido na Política Nacional de Medicamentos, a Faculdade de Farmácia da UFG implantou, em parceria com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Goiânia/Goiás, projeto de extensão universitária que propõe a inserção do farmacêutico na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Encontros foram realizados para sensibilização e apresentação do projeto às respectivas unidades de saúde, e a equipe de farmacêuticos local foi treinada para o exercício da atenção farmacêutica. Em 12 meses de desenvolvimento do projeto, 50 pacientes (70 por cento femininos), com idade média de 50 anos, foram assistidos. Entre estes, 40 (80 por cento) apresentavam mais de uma enfermidade associada e 46 (92 por cento) faziam o uso de dois ou mais fármacos, simultaneamente prescritos. Foram detectados 154 Problemas Relacionados com Medicamentos (PRM), com incidência de 3,1 PRM por paciente. O PRM mais frequente foi a falta de efetividade na terapêutica (49 por cento), sendo 26,3 por cento desses devido à falta de adesão ao tratamento. Conclui-se que a problemática envolvida na assistência à saúde devido à falta de eficiência da farmacoterapia assume dimensões importantes. Atenção Farmacêutica como estratégia de Assistência Farmacêutica mostrou-se, potencialmente, capaz de melhorar a assistência à saúde dos usuários do SUS.

In agreement with the Brazilian National Drug Policy, the School of Pharmacy of Universidade Federal de Goiás, in partnership with the Municipal Health Department of Goiânia, state of Goiás, created and implemented a university development project suggesting the inclusion of the pharmacist in the Family Health Strategy. Meetings were held in order to introduce the project to the respective primary care units and to train the teams of pharmacists in the exercise of pharmaceutical assistance. In the 12 months of the project, 50 patients with hypertension (70% female), with average age of 50, were assisted. Among those, 40 (80%) presented more than one associated illness and 46 (92%) used 2 or more drugs, simultaneously prescribed. In the study, 154 Medication-Related Problems (MRP) were detected, with an incidence of 3.1 MRP per patient. The most frequent MRP was lack of therapeutic efficacy (49%), and 26.3% of these were caused by lack of treatment adherence. It can be concluded that the health care problems caused by lack of pharmacotherapy efficiency assume important proportions. Pharmaceutical Care as a strategy of Pharmaceutical Assistance in Family Health can be an efficient alternative to obtain better clinical and economic results, and to improve the healthcare provided for users of Brazil's National Health System.