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BACKGROUND: The drug retail represents the main area of activity for pharmacists worldwide. In Brazil, this sector is responsible for employing around 80% of professionals. Before this reality, the academic training of pharmacists requires specialized skills and knowledge so they can fulfill their tasks. In this sector, considering the influence of managers and mentors on the model of pharmaceutical practice, their perceptions about the demands of the market can help discussions related to the training of pharmacists. AIM: To analyze the academic training of pharmacists for the drug retail market from the perspective of managers and mentors. METHOD: This is a qualitative study conducted with managers and mentors of the drug retail market. A semi-structured interview guide was prepared and applied to the intentionally selected participants. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the number 4,169,752. The interviews were conducted through videoconference by an experienced researcher. The data obtained were analyzed using Bardin's analysis technique, following the steps of categorical thematic content analysis using the ATLAS.ti software. RESULTS: 19 interviews were carried out. Among the reports, the interviewees highlighted the importance of retail in the employability of pharmacists, as well as inconsistency in the academic training for this sector, originating the following categories: curriculum reform to include the market demands, follow-up and career plan, training for entrepreneurship and sales, practical application of knowledge, and encouragement of experience. CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical academic training is linked to several challenges, whether organizational, structural, or budgetary. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to unite the interested parties in the formulation and implementation of a strategy for the professionalization of pharmacists, considering their social role in patient care, aligned with the company's sustainability, so that both coexist.

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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of point-of-care testing to detect new cases of diabetes mellitus at a Brazilian public community pharmacy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included individuals without a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who met the criteria for screening according to the Brazilian Diabetes Society, which were identified during their presence at a Brazilian public community pharmacy. The measurements of HbA1c were performed using a Cobas b101 device (Roche Diagnostics) and were categorized according to the following classification established by the Brazilian Society of Diabetes: HbA1c <5.7%, normal; HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%, pre-diabetes; and HbA1c >6.4%, new diagnosis of T2DM. KEY FINDINGS: One hundred and eight users met the inclusion criteria. The patients' mean age was 54.4 (± 15.4) years old, ranging from 22 to 80 years old. Eighty (74.1%) participants presented with glycated haemoglobin levels over the standard threshold, of which 58 (72.5%) were in the pre-diabetes range (glycated haemoglobin levels between 5.7% and 6.4%), and 22 (27.5%) had glycated haemoglobin levels >6.4%, which corresponds to a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: The use of point-of-care glycated haemoglobin testing allowed community pharmacists at a Brazilian public community pharmacy to identify health system users with glycated haemoglobin alterations that corresponded to the pre-diabetes state or a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This presented a good opportunity to refer these users to diabetes diagnosis and treatment services.

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O objetivo deste estudo foi refletir sobre o desafio da formação de identidade profissional do farmacêutico clínico em um contexto de currículo não integrado e em um ambiente tradicional e especializado. Desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa orientada pelos pressupostos da perspectiva etnográfica na educação, empregando-se múltiplos métodos de coleta de dados entre abril e julho de 2019. O cenário de ensino experiencial foi uma Farmácia Universitária da região Sul do Brasil. Por meio de uma descrição densa e com uso da reflexividade teórica e intertextual, é apresentada uma narrativa utilizando a voz dos participantes como âncora para dar visibilidade ao processo vivenciado. A ausência de um padrão para o cuidado na profissão farmacêutica, o currículo tradicional e a desarticulação entre teoria e prática constituem desafios para os estudantes de Farmácia legitimarem a prática profissional farmacêutica centrada no usuário.(AU)

The aim of this study was to reflect on the challenge of forming the professional identity of clinical pharmacists in the context of non-integrated curriculums and a traditional specialized environment. We conducted a qualitative study between April and July 2019 guided by the ethnographic approach to education, employing multiple data collection methods. The experiential learning setting was a university pharmacy in the south of Brazil. By means of a thick description and through the use of theoretical and intertextual reflexivity, we present a narrative using the voice of the participants as an anchor to provided visibility to the experienced process. The absence of a standard for the care process in the pharmacy profession, the traditional curriculum, and the lack of connection between theory and practice are challenges facing pharmacy students in legitimizing patient-centered professional practice.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue reflexionar sobre el desafío de la formación de la identidad profesional del farmacéutico clínico en un contexto de currículum no integrado y en un ambiente tradicional y especializado. Se desarrolló una investigación cualitativa orientada por las presuposiciones de la perspectiva etnográfica en la educación, utilizándose múltiples métodos de colecta de datos entre abril y julio de 2019. El escenario de la enseñanza experiencial fue una Farmacia Universitaria de la región sur de Brasil. Por medio de una descripción densa y con el uso de la reflexividad teórica e intertextual se presenta una narrativa que utiliza la voz de los participantes como ancla para dar visibilidad al proceso vivido. La ausencia de un estándar para el proceso de cuidado en la profesión farmacéutica, el currículum tradicional y la desarticulación entre teoría y práctica se constituyen en desafíos para que los estudiantes de Farmacia legitimen la práctica profesional farmacéutica centrada en el usuario.(AU)

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O objetivo foi analisar o perfil das pessoas com diabetes que utilizaram a telefarmácia na pandemia de covid-19. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com dados oriundos da websurvey DIABETESvid que ocorreu nos meses de setembro e outubro de 2020. Verificou-se que 45 participantes recorreram à telefarmácia, sendo que 55,6% eram do sexo masculino, 42,2% tinham idade compreendida entre 18 e 34 anos e 46,7% estudaram 12 ou mais anos. Além disso, 48,9% autorreferiram diabetes mellitus tipo 1. A maioria usava insulina (55,6%) e obteve os medicamentos para o diabetes em farmácias do sistema público de saúde (60%). Ademais, as pessoas que tiveram o diagnóstico de covid-19 buscaram mais pela telefarmácia (RP=2,20; IC95% 1,23­3,94). Sabe-se que os medicamentos são essenciais para o tratamento do diabetes. Logo, no período estudado em que se preconizava o distanciamento físico, os participantes apropriaram-se da telefarmácia a fim de obter a integralidade do cuidado

The objective was to analyze the profile of people with diabetes who used telepharmacy during the covid-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional study with data from the DIABETESvid websurvey that took place in September and October 2020. It was found that 45 participants used telepharmacy, 55.6% of whom were male, 42.2% were between 18 and 34 years-old and 46.7% studied 12 or more years. In addition, 48.9% self-reported type 1 diabetes mellitus. Most used insulin (55.6%) and obtained their diabetes medication from pharmacies in the public health system (60%). Also, people diagnosed with covid-19 used telephar-macy more often (PR=2.20; 95%CI 1.23­3.94). It is known that drugs are essential for the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, in the period studied in which physical distancing was advocated, the participants used telepharmacy to obtain comprehensive care

El objetivo fue analizar el perfil de las personas con diabetes que utilizaron la telefarmacia durante la pandemia del covid-19. Estudio transversal con datos de la encuesta por internet DIABETESvid realizada en septiembre y octubre de 2020. Se encontró que 45 participantes recurrieron a la telefarmacia, de los cuales el 55,6% eran hombres, el 42,2% tenían entre 18 y 34 años y el 46,7% estudiaban 12 o más años. Además, el 48,9% se autorrefirió diabetes mellitus tipo 1. La mayoría utilizaba insulina (55,6%) y recibía su medicación antidiabética en farmacias del sistema público (60%). Además, las personas diagnosticadas con covid-19 buscaron telefarmacia con más frecuencia (RP = 2,20; IC 95% 1,23­3,94). Los medicamentos son esenciales para el tratamiento de la diabetes. Por lo tanto, en el período estudiado en el que se propugnaba el distanciamiento físico, los participantes se apropiaron de la telefarmacia para la atención integral

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Global healthcare systems, including the National Health System in Brazil - one of the largest public models in the world -, continue to evolve, as well as populations' health needs, currently shaped on individuals feeling a greater desire to manage their own health. Self-care practices are part of several public policies and clinical guidelines in Brazil including the National Policy on Complementary and Integrative Practices, the National AIDS Control Program, the National Policy for Women's Health, and the Guidelines for Care of People with Chronic Diseases. There are over 100,700 community pharmacies, in the country (89.2% privately owned) employing 234,300 pharmacists, representing an important delivery point for self-care, as they are the first point of access to care for most patients. Self-medication is a common practice in Brazil (prevalence rates of self-medication ranging from 16.1% to 35.0%), especially with non-prescription/over-the-counter medicinal products (65.0%). In fact, these products represent over 25% of volume marketed of medicines, summing revenues of USD 1.9 billion per year. Studies demonstrated a positive budget impact as important savings for the National Health System due to reductions of unnecessary medical appointments and loss of working days. In addition to minor ailments management, other self-care services provided by community pharmacies that are frequently sought by Brazilian citizens (20-25% of cases) are smoking cessation and weight management (costs per service ranging from around USD 5.00-12.00). However, pharmacy services are not yet as fully integrated in Brazil to the same extent as in other countries. Barriers such as standardization of processes (from services' design, implementation, and evaluation in practice), pharmacist remuneration for the provision of services and the amount to be charged for the service are still a matter of controversy. For more rapid and sustainable advances in these practices, communication among various stakeholders, professional practice and healthcare regulations, standardization of services and financing of self-care (both publicly and privately) are urgently needed. This paper provides an overview of some self-care services provided by community pharmacies in Brazil and call attention to the ongoing challenges to move the National Health system forward.

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RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Implementation of clinical pharmacy services, such as drug dispensing, is a complex process. It is necessary to understand the challenges associated with this practice from the perspective of the actors involved to help ensure optimal service provision. Thus, this study aimed to understand the factors that may influence the implementation of drug dispensing in community pharmacies, according to the perceptions of pharmacists. METHOD: This qualitative study was based on semistructured, face-to-face interviews. The participants were pharmacists who worked in a chain of community pharmacies in Brazil, selected based on their direct participation in the implementation process. The interview recordings were transcribed full verbatim and were independently analyzed using thematic analysis, followed by consensus meetings between researchers. The factors identified by the participants were classified according to the Apoteca framework. This study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research and all participants signed an informed consent form. RESULTS: We conducted 18 interviews, with 47 factors that may influence the implementation of drug dispensing in community pharmacies being identified. These factors were allocated to seven categories: support from community pharmacy chain (4), pharmacy infrastructure (11), characteristics of the pharmacy, medicines and other health products (4), pharmacist (16), dispensing work process (2), pharmacy team (2) and patient (8). The classification of factors according to the Apoteca framework allocated most of them to administrative (14) and technical (15) domains, followed by attitudinal (13) and political (5) domains. CONCLUSION(S): This study identified several factors that can influence the implementation of drug dispensing and classified them according to the domains of the Apoteca framework, highlighting the multifactorial nature of the implementation process. The results of this study can guide the planning of strategies aimed at providing efficient drug dispensing in community pharmacies.

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Introduction: The Pharmaceutical Service (PS) for the provision of Medication compliance aids (MCAs) consists of reconditioning and unifying, in a protocolized manner and in multi-compartment devices, the medications used by a patient, ordering them according to their dosage guideline. The objective was to design, implement and evaluate an PS of MCAs in an institutional pharmacy in the city of Córdoba. Methods: Observational, descriptive and longitudinal study. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was developed from for PS of MCAs and applied to a sample of 20 patients. Adherence was analyzed by: tablet count and Morisky-Green test. A validated service satisfaction questionnaire was applied and a cost analysis was performed considering the initial investment and the times involved. Results: A 98.0% adherence was obtained by counting the tablets and by the Morisky-Green test: 5.0% at the start of the service and 55.0% at 3 months. The patients expressed in the satisfaction questionnaire: 90.0% very satisfied and 10.0% satisfied. Regarding the cost analysis, the initial investment was USD 1,670.44. A value of US $ 4.29 was calculated for the first interview, and the monthly cost of preparation ranged from US $ 16.02, for 7-30 weekly takings, to US $ 28.73 for more than 121 takings. Conclusion: It was possible to develop and implement an SOP for the PS of SPD, with significant improvements in adherence. A high degree of patient satisfaction was observed and were obtained minimal operating costs to achieve sustainability.

Introducción: El Servicio Profesional Farmacéutico Asistencial (SPFA) de provisión de Sistemas Personalizados de Dosificación (SPD) consiste en reacondicionar y unificar, de manera protocolizada y en dispositivos multicompartimentales, los medicamentos que emplea un paciente, ordenándolos según su pauta posológica. El objetivo fue diseñar, implantar y evaluar un SPFA de SPD en una farmacia institucional de la ciudad de Córdoba. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y longitudinal. Se desarrolló de un Procedimiento Normalizado de Trabajo (PNT) para el SPFA de SPD y se aplicó a una muestra de 20 pacientes. Se analizó la adherencia mediante: recuento de comprimidos y test de Morisky-Green. Se aplicó un cuestionario validado de satisfacción del servicio y se realizó un análisis de costos considerando la inversión inicial y los tiempos involucrados. Resultados: Se obtuvo un 98,0% de adherencia por recuento de comprimidos y por Test de Morisky-Green, 5,0% al inicio del servicio y 55,0% a los 3 meses.  Los pacientes expresaron en el cuestionario de satisfacción:  90,0% muy satisfecho y 10,0% satisfecho.  Respecto al análisis de costos, la inversión inicial fue de USD 1.670,44. Se calculó un valor de U$4,29 para la primera entrevista y el costo mensual de preparación, desde USD 16,02 para 7-30 tomas semanales hasta USD 28,73 para más de 121 tomas. Conclusión: Fue posible desarrollar e implantar un PNT para el SPFA de SPD, con mejoras significativas en la adherencia. Se observó un elevado grado de satisfacción del paciente y se obtuvieron los costos operativos mínimos para conseguir su sostenibilidad.

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BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance remains a major global public health concern, and antimicrobial dispensing in community pharmacies is an important factor in preventing this damage. However, the current literature focuses on the technical and attitudinal aspects related to antimicrobial dispensing, with little emphasis on the interventions provided in this service. Thus, this study aimed to determine the antimicrobial dispensing process in community pharmacies. METHODS: A scoping review was performed in September 2020 using the PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. The search terms included words related to dispensing, antibacterial agents, and pharmacies in various combinations. Two reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full-text articles according to the eligibility criteria, and extracted the data. The findings were presented in a descriptive form. RESULTS: Of the 7713 studies screened, 35 were included, of which 22 (63%) were published in Asia. Most studies followed a cross-sectional design (n = 27), and the simulated patient was the most often used method to assess the antimicrobial dispensing process (n = 22). Moreover, 31 (89%) studies investigated antimicrobial dispensing without prescription, and only four (11%) studies evaluated antimicrobial dispensing with prescription. In the 35 studies, the most frequently asked questions were about drug allergies (n = 19) and patient symptoms (n = 18), and counseling mainly focused on the side effects (n = 14), precautions (n = 14), how to take the medication (n = 12), and duration of medication use (n = 11). Another common intervention was referral (n = 15). Among clinical cases, counseling on medication use occurred often in cases of urinary tract infection (51%) and otitis media (50%). CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial dispensing processes have been primarily investigated in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on dispensing antimicrobials without prescriptions. During the dispensing process, pharmacists mostly posed minimal questions and counseling, highlighting the deficiencies that persist in this practice. Our results indicate the need for multifaceted strategies, such as implementing educational, regulatory or administrative strategies and changes in cultural background, especially in low- and middle-income countries, that aim to reduce indiscriminate use of antimicrobials. Therefore, qualifying the antimicrobial dispensing process is a fundamental factor for improving the rational use of antimicrobials and reducing microbial resistance.

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BACKGROUND: Drug dispensing aims to promote rational medicine use. However, in many countries, the work processes are still not well defined. In this sense, the perception of pharmacists about dispensing practices presents an overview of how the service is being performed in the country and its main challenges. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the self-reported work process of Brazilian community pharmacists in relation to drug dispensing, challenges, and strategies for carrying out the service. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and July 2021, with community pharmacists from all regions of Brazil. Pharmacists were invited to answer a validated, self-administered questionnaire, implemented through Google Forms, containing 33 questions related to the steps of drug dispensing (questions and counseling) and the main challenges and strategies to perform the service. The data were exported to Microsoft Office Excel and SPSS®. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between responses and demographic information, with a significance level of less than 5% (p < 0.05). This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (number: 4.295.171). RESULTS: A total of 625 community pharmacists responded to the survey. Most pharmacists reported always or frequently performing 17 (54%) of the 31 steps described in the instrument. The steps that pharmacists reported performing more frequently were forming the medication name (n = 569, 91.04%), verifying the completeness and adequacy of the prescription according to current legislation (n = 567, 90.72%) and providing counseling on dosage (n = 549, 87.84%). Documentation was the main step in which pharmacists reported never or rarely performing (n = 424, 67.84%). The results showed that there was a significant influence of the variables of public education institution, age, and postgraduate education on the frequency of dispensing steps (F(3, 621) = 14.884, p < 0.001; R2ajdusted = 0,063). CONCLUSION: This study showed that most pharmacists reported always or frequently asking most of the questions and performing counseling contained in the instrument during drug dispensing. These results can contribute to an understanding of current dispensing practices and generate insights for developing strategies to qualify the service.

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Introdução: A Lei nº 13.021, de 8 de agosto de 2014, renovou o conceito de farmácia, impulsionando ações da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) para a atualização da RDC n° 44, de 17 de agosto de 2009, como a realização de uma consulta dirigida ao Sistema Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária sobre a resolução. Objetivo: Identificar ações de vigilância sanitária relacionadas aos serviços de saúde em farmácias comunitárias. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo realizado com dados secundários da consulta dirigida às Vigilâncias Sanitárias (Visa) municipais promovida em 2019 pela Anvisa. As respostas das 349 respondentes foram organizadas nos blocos "Considerações Gerais", "Estrutura", "Processo e Monitoramento" e categorizados conforme o formato de pergunta (aberta ou fechada) e o conteúdo, utilizando-se parâmetros de avaliação em saúde. Resultados: O compartilhamento do local da dispensação com outras atividades de saúde refletiu um risco sanitário quanto a estrutura. O gerenciamento dos resíduos foi o processo mais citado, superando aqueles relacionados à assistência farmacêutica. Quanto ao monitoramento, a Declaração de Serviços Farmacêuticos mostrou-se um bom instrumento para o registro das atividades realizadas, enquanto notificações de eventos adversos e queixas técnicas não apareceram como rotineiros. A descentralização nas ações de Visa está bem estabelecida, mas evoluiu de forma desigual para produtos regulados e atividades de saúde, de forma que a RDC n° 44 de 2009 mostrou-se útil, mas desatualizada nos aspectos impactantes aos serviços de saúde. Conclusões: A delimitação de atividades de saúde em farmácias é um desafio para a vigilância sanitária, seja pelo ajuste do regulamento sanitário, seja pelas tecnologias de produtos e serviços que são atualizadas mais rapidamente do que a análise dos riscos envolvidos na sua exposição à população.

Introduction: Law No. 13.021, August 8, 2014, renewed the concept of pharmacy, driving actions of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) to update RDC No. 44, August 17, 2009, such as conducting a consultation directed to the National Health Surveillance System on the resolution. Objective: To identify health surveillance actions related to health services in community pharmacies. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out with secondary data from the consultation addressed to municipal Health Surveys (Visa) promoted in 2019 by Anvisa. The responses of the 349 respondents were organized in the blocks 'General Considerations', 'Structure', 'Process and Monitoring' and categorized according to the question format (open or closed) and content, using health assessment parameters. Results: The sharing of the dispensing location with other healthcare activities reflected a health risk regarding structure. Waste management was the most cited process, surpassing those related to pharmaceutical assistance. As for monitoring, the document named Statement on Pharmaceutical Care proved to be a good instrument for recording the activities performed, while notifcations of adverse events and technical complaints did not appear as a routine. The decentralization in Visa actions is well established, but has evolved unevenly for regulated products and health activities, so that the RDC No. 44 of 2009 proved to be useful, but outdated in the impacting aspects to health services. Conclusions: The delimitation of health activities in pharmacies is a challenge for health surveillance, either by the adjustment of sanitary regulation, either by the technologies of products and services that are updated faster than the analysis of the risks involved in the its exposure to the population.

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Objective: Evaluate the data on the psychotropic drugs dispensed by private community pharmacies before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared the quarterly and annual consumption of psychotropic drugs per Defined Daily Dose per 1000 inhabitants-day (DHD). Interrupted time series were also constructed to expose changes in the consumption pattern in the periods before and after March 2020. Results: Among the 20 most consumed psychoactive drugs, 12 were antidepressants, for example, escitalopram (DHD 7.996 and 10.626; p < 0.001), and sertraline (DHD 6.321 and 8.484; p < 0.001), in addition to the hypnotic zolpidem (DHD 6.202 and 8.526; p < 0.001). The time series reveals (R 2 value) a variation in drug dispensing, in DHD values, during the pandemic. Conclusion: Despite the higher variance, a significant increase is clearly seen in the consumption trends of psychoactive drugs, particularly antidepressants, consistent with the pandemic's influence on the general population's mental health.

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Community pharmacies were underutilized as vaccination locations during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Since that time, community pharmacies are a common location for seasonal influenza vaccinations with approximately one-third of adults now getting vaccinated at a pharmacy. Leveraging community pharmacies to vaccinate during a pandemic such as pandemic influenza or the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will result in a more timely and comprehensive public health response. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results of a strategic planning meeting held in 2017 that focused on operationalizing pandemic influenza vaccinations at a regional supermarket chain pharmacy. Participating in the planning session from the supermarket chain were organizational experts in pharmacy clinical programs, managed care, operations leadership, supply chain, information technology, loss prevention, marketing, and compliance. Additionally, experts from the county and state departments of health and university faculty collaborated in the planning session. Topics addressed included (1) establishing a memorandum of understanding with the state, (2) developing an internal emergency response plan, (3) scaling the pandemic response, (4) considerations for pharmacy locations, (5) staffing for pandemic response, (6) pandemic vaccine-specific training, (7) pharmacy workflow, (8) billing considerations, (9) documentation, (10) supplies and equipment, (11) vaccine supply chain, (12) communications, and (13) security and crowd control. Information from this planning session may be valuable to community pharmacies across the nation that seek to participate in COVID-19 pandemic vaccinations.

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This study aims to analyze the sources people over 18 years of age use to obtain medication for the treatment of hypertension and diabetes, according to sociodemographic characteristics from 2013 to 2019. Data from the Brazilian National Health Survey were analyzed. Most individuals with diagnosis and prescription to pharmacological treatment reported obtaining medicines exclusively from one type of source. The percentage of people who acquired hypertension medicine exclusively from public pharmacies decreased, from 24.5% in 2013 to 16.2% in 2019; while there was an increase in those obtaining from the Popular Pharmacy program, from 23.5% to 31.4%; as well as for out-of-pocket payment, which rose from 30.9% to 35.5% The percentage of people who acquired diabetes medication exclusively from public pharmacies increased from 7.4% to 18.6% and with out-of-pocket payment increased from 21.6% to 26.8%, while the percentage of those who acquired from the Popular Pharmacy program decreased from 47.2% to 36.4%. The percentage of those who acquired medication from various sources decreased for both hypertension and diabetes. For men, white, and those with higher education, the source of medication acquisition, for both conditions, was mostly by out-of-pocket payment. The high number of medicine acquisition from public sources represents an advance in Brazil's response to the treatment of these conditions, but reducing regional differences still represents a challenge to be overcome by the healthcare system.

Este estudo buscou analisar as fontes utilizadas por pessoas com mais de 18 anos para obter medicamentos para o tratamento de hipertensão arterial e diabetes de acordo com características sociodemográficas de 2013 a 2019. Foram analisados dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde. A maioria dos indivíduos com diagnóstico e prescrição para tratamento farmacológico relatou a obtenção de medicamentos exclusivamente de um tipo de fonte. O percentual de pessoas que adquiriram medicamentos para hipertensão exclusivamente de farmácias públicas diminuiu de 24,5% em 2013 para 16,2% em 2019. Por outro lado, o percentual daqueles que adquiriram pelo Programa Farmácia Popular aumentou de 23,5% para 31,4% e gastos próprios foram de 30,9% para 35,5%. O percentual de pessoas que adquiriram medicamentos para diabetes exclusivamente de farmácias públicas aumentou de 7,4% para 18,6% e gastos próprios aumentaram de 21,6% para 26,8% enquanto o percentual dos que adquiriram da Farmácia Popular diminuiu de 47,2% para 36,4%. O percentual daqueles que adquiriram medicamentos de diversas fontes diminuiu tanto para hipertensão quanto para diabetes. Homens, pessoas brancas e pessoas com Ensino Superior adquiriram medicamentos para ambas as condições principalmente por gastos próprios. O alto número de aquisições de medicamentos de fontes públicas representa um avanço na resposta do Brasil ao tratamento dessas condições, mas reduzir as diferenças regionais ainda é um desafio a ser superado pelo sistema de saúde.

Este estudio buscó analizar las fuentes utilizadas por personas mayores de 18 años para obtener medicamentos para el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial y la diabetes según las características sociodemográficas de 2013 a 2019. Los datos provienen de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud. La mayoría de los individuos con diagnóstico y prescripción de tratamiento farmacológico reportaron obtener los medicamentos exclusivamente de un tipo de fuente. El porcentaje de personas que compraban medicamentos para la hipertensión exclusivamente en farmacias públicas disminuyó del 24,5% en 2013 al 16,2% en 2019. Por otro lado, el porcentaje de quienes lo compraban a través del programa Farmacia Popular aumentó del 23,5% al 31,4% , y el gasto pasó del 30,9% al 35,5%. El porcentaje de personas que compraban medicamentos para la diabetes exclusivamente en farmacias públicas aumentó del 7,4% al 18,6% y el gasto propio aumentó del 21,6% al 26,8%, mientras que el porcentaje de los que compraban en Farmacia Popular descendió del 47,2% al 36,4%. El porcentaje de quienes compraban medicamentos de diferentes fuentes disminuyó tanto para la hipertensión como para la diabetes. Los hombres, los individuos de raza blanca y las personas con educación superior adquirieron medicamentos para ambas afecciones a sus expensas.. El alto número de compras de medicamentos de fuentes públicas es un avance en la respuesta de Brasil al tratamiento de estas condiciones, pero la reducción de las diferencias regionales sigue siendo un desafío para ser superado por el sistema de salud.

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Abstract The delivery of clinical pharmacy services has been growing in Brazilian community pharmacies, and it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the topic. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of Brazilian studies about clinical pharmacy services in community pharmacies. Original research articles, with no restriction of time, study design, or patient's health condition, were included. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo, and Lilacs. Two reviewers conducted the screening, full-text reading, and data extraction independently. ROB and ROBINS-I were used for the assessment of quality. Charts and tables were built to summarise the data. Seventy-two articles were included. A diversity of study designs, number of participants, terms used, and outcomes was found. São Paulo and Sergipe States had the highest number of studies (n=10). Pharmacists' interventions were not fully reported in 65% of studies, and most studies presented an unclear risk of bias. Studies were very diverse, impairing the comparisons between the results and hindering their reproducibility. This review suggests using guidelines and checklists for better structuration of pharmacists' interventions as well as reporting results and measuring fidelity in future research.

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Abstract Pharmaceutical education should enable the development of competences for community pharmacy practice, which is an important field for the pharmacist workforce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the competences perceived by pharmacy interns from a Brazilian pharmacy school for community pharmacy practice. This study adopted a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. The study cohort included undergraduate students who undertook internships in community pharmacy in the final year of the pharmacy course. Students responded to an 11-item structured questionnaire according to a five-point Likert scale that included perceptions of their competences for community pharmacy practice. Among the 693 possible answers, 605 (87.3%) agreed that the course promoted the development of competences for professional practice in community pharmacy. Less than 70% of students perceived themselves as prepared to respond to symptoms and provide non-prescription medicines. Qualitative analysis of the comments revealed three themes: the need to improve patient information skills, improve practice as a member of a health care team, and improve dispensing according to legal requirements. These findings may support improvements in undergraduate pharmacy programs, such as the inclusion of experiential learning, active learning methods, interprofessional education, and development of clinical skills.

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Abstract The insertion of Pharmaceutical Care in Primary Health Care (PHC) improves patients' clinical outcomes and quality of life. Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up can contribute to the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, promoting better glycemic control and adherence to therapy. This study aimed to assess the Drug-therapy Problems (DTPs) and Pharmacist Interventions (PIs) on the pharmacotherapeutic management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a community pharmacy. A quantitative, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted in a Pharmaceutical Care Program within the PHC in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Inclusion criteria were patients with T2DM above 18, who attended at least three pharmaceutical consultations between July 2016 and October 2018 and presented two or more glycated hemoglobin tests. The study group (n = 17) was largely composed of women (65%), elderly (76%), sedentary (72%), and obese people (52%). The resolution was achieved in 79% of the DTPs identified (n = 115). Most of DTPs were related to administration and adherence to pharmacotherapy (46%). 60% of the 437 PIs involved the provision of information and counseling. In other words, accessible interventions lead to high resolvability. Therefore, clinical actuation of pharmacists could improve the prognosis in diabetes treatment

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The Brazilian National Health System (BR-NHS) is one of the largest public health systems in the world. In 2019 Brazil had 114,352 community pharmacies (76.8% private owned), that represent the first point of access to healthcare in Brazil due to their wide distribution. Unfortunately, from the government's point of view, the main expected activity of private and public community pharmacies is related to dispensing medicines and other health products. Public community pharmacies can be part of a healthcare center or be in a separate location, sometimes without the presence of a pharmacist. Pharmacists working in these separated locations do not have access to patients' medical records, and they have difficulty in accessing other members of the patient care team. Pharmacists working in public pharmacies located in healthcare centers may have access to patients' medical records, but pharmacy activities are frequently under other professional's supervision (e.g., nurses). Private pharmacies are usually open 24/7 with the presence of a pharmacist for 8 hours on business days. Private community pharmacies have a very limited integration in the BR-NHS and pharmacists are the third largest healthcare workforce in Brazil with more than 221,000 registered in the Brazilian Federal Pharmacist Association [CFF - Conselho Federal de Farmácia]. A University degree in pharmacy is the only requirement to entry into the profession, without any proficiency exam for maintenance or career progression. The Brazilian pharmacist's annual income is ranked as the 2nd better-paid profession with an annual average income of EUR 5,502.37 (in 2020). Description of clinical activities for pharmacies by the CFF increased in the recent years, however there is still a long way to effectively implement them into practice.

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RESUMO Esta revisão buscou sintetizar as práticas em serviços farmacêuticos relacionadas ao gerenciamento e às atividades clínicas em distintos contextos para a prevenção e a assistência durante a epidemia da Covid-19. Trata-se de uma revisão da literatura sobre políticas públicas de saúde para a reorganização da assistência farmacêutica em países atingidos pela Covid-19 realizada nas bases de dados Web of Science, Science Direct e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Foram selecionados 9 artigos, sendo todos publicados em 2020. Destes, 90% foram publicados pelo periódico 'Research in Social an Administrative Pharmacy' e tiveram como local de realização de estudo países de três continentes. Foram relatadas e debatidas experiências sobre a atuação do profissional farmacêutico e o papel da farmácia comunitária no contexto da pandemia da Covid-19, e sobre a reorganização destes serviços, evidenciadas no contexto de crise, tanto no que tange à oferta de serviços quanto ao próprio espraiamento da doença. O modelo adotado pelos países para o enfrentamento da Covid-19, no âmbito dos serviços farmacêuticos comunitários, baseou-se em atividades para a garantia da qualidade e logística de insumos e medicamentos, triagem e monitoramento de pacientes, acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico, educação em saúde e informações sobre o uso de medicamentos.

ABSTRACT This review sought to synthesize the practices in pharmaceutical services related to management and clinical activities in different contexts for prevention and assistance during the Covid-19 epidemic. This is a review of the literature on public health policies for the reorganization of pharmaceutical assistance in countries affected by Covid-19 carried out in the Web of Science, Science Direct and Virtual Health Library databases. 9 articles were selected, all published in 2020. Of these, 90% of the articles were published by the journal 'Research in Social an Administrative Pharmacy' and had countries of three continents as study sites. Experiences about the performance of the pharmaceutical professional and the role of the community pharmacy in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and about the reorganization of these services, evidenced in the context of crisis, were reported and debated, both with regard to the provision of services and the spread of the disease itself. The model adopted by countries to confront Covid-19, within the scope of community pharmaceutical services, was based on activities for quality assurance and logistics of supplies and medicines, screening and monitoring of patients, pharmacotherapeutic accompaniment, health education and information on medication use.

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Colombia confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 on March 6th, 2020. On March 16th, 2020, 54 cases have been confirmed (36 imported and 18 associated), therefore, Colombia is at highest alert, and it is now trying to avoid or minimize the last stage of "community transmission". We present a route proposal that shows how the community pharmacist may develop his responsibility to contribute to the early detection and appropriate referral of possible cases of the COVID-19. In the route have been considered three possible entrances depending on the needs of the users: anti-flu drugs, symptoms related to COVID-19 infection or the request for items for hygiene and prevention of transmission such as alcohol and face masks. Later, self-care education should be given, and the possible cases should be reported to the telephone lines designated by the mayor or the governor, continuing the healthcare process. Community pharmacies and pharmacy staff play a crucial role in minimizing the stage of "community transmission" of COVID-19, through properly detection and management of possible cases and customer education.

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OBJECTIVE: To map the clinical pharmacy services conducted in Brazil, their characteristics, outcomes, and process measures in general population, as well as the assessment of the clinical impact on people with cardiometabolic diseases (cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases). METHODS: A systematic scoping review and meta-analysis were conducted. The electronic searches were re-run in March 2020. To the clinical impact assessment, meta-analyses of cardiometabolic outcomes (i.e., change of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides, total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glycemia, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol) were led. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tools. RESULTS: 71 studies were identified (7,402 patients), being the majority quasi-experimental studies (n=41) and published by research groups of Southeast Brazil (n=33). Medication therapy management (n=62) was the most frequent clinical pharmacy service, performed on outpatient setting (n=45), with adults or elderly people (n=58) with hypertension (n=18) or diabetes (n=10). Process measures (n=58) (e.g. resolution of drug related-problem) were widely used as indicator, followed by clinical (n=44) (e.g. change in SBP), humanistic (n=12) (e.g. change in quality-of-life score assessed by Short-Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire), and economic outcomes (n=3) (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for reduction in HbA1c). Regarding the assessment of clinical impact of the services, 20 studies were included in meta-analyses, showing improvement in most cardiometabolic outcomes when considered individual studies. However, the evidence presents high risk of bias, high heterogeneity (median 67-90%) and imprecision, contributing to wide prediction intervals and low reliability. CONCLUSIONS: A predominance of studies on cardiometabolic diseases, process measures, and clinical outcomes were identified. Considering the assessment of the clinical impact of clinical pharmacy services in cardiometabolic diseases, an improvement in most cardiometabolic outcomes was showed, however, with low confidence and wide prediction interval. Therefore, development of larger studies with low risk of bias and major homogeneity is necessary for a better comprehension of clinical pharmacy service characteristics, benefits, and the population groups most benefited.