O cuidado farmacêutico na percepção de profissionais atuantes no município de Barra do Garças/MT

Abstract

Pharmaceutical care is characterized by the pharmacist's direct contact with the patient, in which the professional assumes responsibility for identifying and satisfying the patients' needs related to pharmacotherapy. In Brazil, the provision of this service is still incipient, due to some factors that make its implementation difficult, such as the lack of professional training, lack of support from the manager/owner and overload of administrative responsibilities. Considering the importance of pharmaceutical care in the recovery of health and in the valorization of the pharmaceutical professional, knowing the characteristics and difficulties of this service is essential for its effective implementation and improvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of pharmacists working in the city of Barra do Garças-MT regarding the pharmaceutical care process. This is a descriptive and crosssectional study, with the participation of 27 pharmacists. Data collection was carried out from May to October 2021, through an online questionnaire produced using the “Google Forms” tool. The collected data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. It was found that most of the interviewees carried out activities such as checking the expiration date of medicines (70.4%) and registering products subject to special control (70.4%). However, it was observed that many participants also performed activities not directly related to the pharmaceutical profession, such as stock replenishment (59.3%) and issuance of product invoices (48.1%). As health agents committed to the success of pharmacotherapy, 63% of pharmacists considered that they do not feel fulfilled or need to improve in aspects such as knowledge of medicines and legislation. Regarding perception, 81.5% of participants monitored adverse drug reaction and medication adherence among patients. However, only 41% performed the personal medication record of each patient, which can be considered a low rate of data documentation. All respondents showed positive attitudes when they agreed that offering pharmaceutical care generates job satisfaction. Among the difficulties faced in the exercise of pharmaceutical care, the lack of physical space (66.7%), the lack of specialization courses (51.9%), the lack of time (63%) and the lack of support from the owner/manager (63%). Therefore, the research data indicate a need for restructuring the training of pharmacists with a focus on clinical practice. In addition, it is essential that professionals seek training to provide a quality pharmaceutical care service and thus gain recognition and appreciation as essential professionals in the health area.