Pharmaceutical care in a school pharmacy: from consultation to resolution of drug-related problems

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.