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Coelho RB, Costa FA. Impact of pharmaceutical counseling in minor health problems in rural Portugal. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2014;12(4):451doi: 10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002.
Coelho, R. B., & Costa, F. A. (2014). Impact of pharmaceutical counseling in minor health problems in rural Portugal. Pharmacy practice, 12(4), 451. https://doi.org/10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002
Coelho, Raquel B, and Costa, Filipa A. "Impact of pharmaceutical counseling in minor health problems in rural Portugal." Pharmacy practice vol. 12,4 (2014): 451. doi: https://doi.org/10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002
Coelho RB, Costa FA. Impact of pharmaceutical counseling in minor health problems in rural Portugal. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2014 Oct;12(4):451. doi: 10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002. Epub 2014 Mar 15. PMID: 25580167; PMCID: PMC4282762.
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Pharm Pract (Granada). 2014 Oct;12(4):451. doi: 10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002. Epub 2014 Mar 15.

Impact of pharmaceutical counseling in minor health problems in rural Portugal.

Pharmacy practice

Raquel B Coelho, Filipa A Costa

Affiliations

  1. Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Pharmaceutical Care Specialist Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Alfeirao. Vila Nova de Milfontes ( Portugal ). [email protected].
  2. Higher Institute of Health Sciences Egas Moniz . Centre for Interdisciplinary Research Egas Moniz (CiiEM). Almada ( Portugal ). [email protected].

PMID: 25580167 PMCID: PMC4282762 DOI: 10.4321/s1886-36552014000400002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of self-medication and to evaluate the clinical impact of pharmaceutical counseling.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used with a prospective component, the latter to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical counseling. The study was conducted in a rural community pharmacy for 14 consecutive days in December 2012, recruiting all individuals who agreed to participate and met the eligibility criteria. During a face-to-face direct interview demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were registered, followed by a pharmaceutical intervention, which consisted of evaluating the symptoms, selecting the most appropriate non-prescription medicine (NPM) available and advising the patient on pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic measures, all according to established protocols for minor health problems. When appropriate, the patient was referred to a medical appointment. One week later, the clinical outcome of such intervention was measured by asking the patients about the resolution of their minor health problems.

RESULTS: Data from 298 patients were analyzed, the majority being female (60.1%) with an average age of 44.84 years (SD=22.41). Respiratory problems were the most frequent (n=78; 26.2%) and respiratory tract medication was the most frequently indicated (n= 77; 27.8%). The observed prevalence of self-medication was 40.7%. Of the 271 patients' beneficiaries of pharmaceutical counseling, 86.8% had their minor health problems solved after one week (ranging from 77.5% to 88.2% according to a sensibility analysis for drop-outs).

CONCLUSIONS: This work is important as it demonstrates the beneficial impact of pharmaceutical counseling, a very relevant area for the pharmacist and where literature is particularly scarce.

Keywords: Community Pharmacy Services; Counseling; Nonprescription Drugs; Pharmacists; Portugal; Professional Practice

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