ABSTRACT
Background: Dispensing and prescribing antibiotics is inappropriate in many of the countries in the European Union, including Spain, and a threat to the population's health. To tackle the growth of antimicrobial resistance, the Happy Patient project was set up under the sponsorship of the European Commission. Aim: O ascertain the characteristics of dispensing antibiotic therapy in Spanish community pharmacies.To compare the variability between different Spanish community pharmacies. Methods: The Audit Project Odense® methodology was used to find out how antibiotics were dispensed in community pharmacies. Pharmacists taking part were asked to record for five consecutive days between the months of February and April 2022 the actions performed during the dispensing of oral antibiotics for human use and for the treatment of acute infections. Results: A total population of 573 patients (59.9% female) of all age groups were interviewed. The patients were 83.6% aware of the purpose for which the antibiotic was prescribed and the most requested antibiotic was amoxicillin followed by amoxicillin with clavulanic acid.In 15% of dispensations, a triple safety check was completed: interactions, contraindications and allergies. The pharmacist rarely contacted the prescriber but when she did, the prescriber altered the prescription.In 62.3% of cases, information about the duration of treatment was provided and amoxicillin with and without clavulanic acid was the antibiotic dispensed for which most warnings about side effects were issued. In 24.6% of dispensations there was no advice given at all. In 81.7% the pharmacist agreed with the prescribed treatment. Conclusions: This audit can be a starting point to improve clinical practice and reduce antibiotic resistance. It highlights the need for safety checks in regard to the use of antimicrobials and suggests verifying dispensing to correct errors that may jeopardize the safety and effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: Alergológica 2014 es un proyecto para obtener información de tipo epidemiológico, clínico y socioeconómico de los pacientes alérgicos. Esta es la primera edición en que los farmacéuticos de farmacia comunitaria participan en el estudio junto con alergólogos. El objetivo ha sido obtener información sobre posibles programas de apoyo y asesoramiento a partir de una encuesta sobre alergia en las farmacias. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo mediante una encuesta nacional online para farmacéuticos comunitarios realizada entre el 17 de marzo y el 19 de mayo de 2014. Resultados: Participaron 415 farmacéuticos que contestaron el cuestionario de forma voluntaria. Entre los resultados destaca que un 40% recibe entre el 25-50% de prevalencia de consultas sobre alergia en primavera y otoño, siendo la rinitis/conjuntivitis la más frecuente con un 43%. Los tratamientos sintomatológicos sin prescripción son los que reciben más preguntas (75% de los casos). Más del 90% de los farmacéuticos consideran interesante contar con protocolos de actuación en alergia pero solo un 34% dispone de protocolos en dispensación e indicación. Entre el 88 y 98% de los casos no hay coordinación con otros profesionales sanitarios. Discusión: La información obtenida permitirá implementar protocolos, mejorar los conocimientos y dar una atención farmacéutica de calidad, ya que se podrá mejorar la atención sanitaria que reciben los pacientes atendiendo a sus necesidades. Además permitirá cooperar con los alergólogos que obtendrán información fidedigna de los aspectos que más preocupan y se preguntan los pacientes cuando no están en su consulta (AU)
Introduction: Alergológica 2014 is a project designed to obtain epidemiological, clinical and socioeconomic information on allergic patients. This is the first edition in which community pharmacy pharmacists participate in the study along with allergologists. The purpose was to collect information on possible supportive and counseling programs based on an allergy questionnaire in pharmacies. Material and methods: A national online-based descriptive survey was carried out among community pharmacies between 17 March and 19 May 2014. Results: A total of 415 pharmacists voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Regarding the results obtained, 40% of those surveyed claimed to receive 25-50% of all allergy consultations in spring and autumn - rhinitis / conjunctivitis being the most common problems (43%). Most questions (75%) were referred to symptomatic treatments obtained without a prescription. Over 90% of the pharmacists considered it interesting to implement interventional protocols in allergy, though only 34% claimed to have protocols referred to dispensation and therapeutic indication. In 88-98% of the cases there is no coordination with other health professionals. Discussion: The information obtained will allow the adoption of protocols, the improvement of knowledge and the provision of quality pharmaceutical care, since it will contribute to improve healthcare among patients and meet their needs. Furthermore, it will facilitate cooperation with allergologists, who will benefit from reliable information on those aspects that concern patients most and which cause them to ask questions when not in the allergology clinic (AU)