Outpatient pharmaceutical office: access to medicines in public health

We evaluated the implementation of the outpatient pharmaceutical office in a teaching hospital regarding the access to medicines available in the Unified Health System - SUS. This is a descriptive-analytical study, based on secondary data analysis of 735 appointments performed by the pharmacist from 2015 to 2017. Of the drugs prescribed to patients attended at the outpatient pharmacist office, 86.39% were listed in the National List of Essential Medicines - RENAME, of which 95.43% belonged to the Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Assistance. Evaluating the patient’s diagnosis against the inclusion criteria of the Clinical Protocols and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDT), that the most frequent pharmaceutical interventions were: adequacy of the medication request documents (56.4%) and examination requests for pharmacotherapeutic follow up (28.5%). When the prescribed drugs were not included in RENAME/PCDT, the intervention was accepted in 90.3% of the proposals for exchange with available drug in SUS. Still, it was possible to refer the patient to primary care for renewal of continuity of treatment in 95.1% of cases. In conclusion, the role of the clinical pharmacist contributes to the resolution of untreated health problems by promoting access to medicines within the scope of SUS and their rational use in accordance with the PCDT

Efetividade no diagnóstico da tuberculose em Foz do Iguaçu, tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la efectividad de los servicios de salud en el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis en Foz de Iguazú - Paraná. Se realizó una investigación evaluativa con un diseño epidemiológico transversal. Fueron entrevistados 101 pacientes con tuberculosis en el 2009, utilizando un instrumento basado en la Herramienta de Evaluación de la Atención Primaria . El análisis se produjo a partir de proporciones y los respectivos intervalos de confianza (95%) y la mediana. La atención de emergencia (37%) y la Atención Primaria de Salud (ABS) (36%) fueron los locales más buscados. El acceso a la consulta en el mismo día llegó a 70%, pero la sospecha de la enfermedad fue menor que 47%; baciloscopia fue realizada en el 50% de los pacientes. Se concluyó que, si bien estos servicios atienden rápidamente, eso no determinó el alcance del diagnóstico, llevando al paciente a buscar los Servicios Especializados más efectivos en la detección de los casos. La búsqueda de la ABS generó mayor tiempo y número de retornos para el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis en la triple frontera.Objetivou-se avaliar a efetividade dos serviços de saúde no diagnóstico da tuberculose em Foz do Iguaçu-PR. Realizou-se uma pesquisa avaliativa, com desenho epidemiológico transversal. Foram entrevistados 101 doentes de tuberculose em 2009, utilizando um instrumento baseado no Primary Care Assessment Tool . A análise ocorreu a partir de proporções e respectivos intervalos de confiança (95%) e mediana. O Pronto Atendimento (37%) e a Atenção Básica à Saúde (ABS) (36%) foram os locais mais buscados. O acesso à consulta no mesmo dia alcançou 70%, mas a suspeição da doença foi menor que 47%; a baciloscopia realizada em 50% dos doentes. Concluiu-se que apesar desses serviços atenderem rapidamente, isso não determinou alcance do diagnóstico, levando o doente a procurar os serviços especializados, mais efetivos na descoberta dos casos. A busca pela ABS gerou maior tempo e maior número de retornos para o diagnóstico da tuberculose na tríplice fronteira.This study sought to assess the effectiveness of health services in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Foz do Iguaçu–PR, the triple border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In this epidemiologic, cross-sectional study, 101 persons with tuberculosis were interviewed in 2009 by using an instrument based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool . The analysis was based on proportions and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%) and means. Emergency units (37%) and primary health care units (26%) were the most sought units. Access to medical consultation on the same day reached 70%, but tuberculosis was suspected in less than 47% of patients; bacilloscopy was conducted in 50% of patients. We conclude that although these services provide rapid care, they do not determine the true diagnosis and lead the patient to seek specialized services. Specialty services are more effective in establishing the correct diagnosis. In the triple border region, seeking care at a primary health care unit led to extra time and more returns to the hospital for a tuberculosis diagnosis

Entryway for tuberculosis diagnosis: an assessment of service structure

A quantitative study which interviewed 160 professionals from Basic Health Units, Family Health and Emergency Services. The objective was to evaluate the structure of services that act as an entryway for diagnosing tuberculosis. We observed a prevalence of female professionals with superior median time of work in the Basic Units. Emergency Services received the highest evaluation regarding working hours and the lowest regarding staff availability. Family Health presented the best evaluation with respect to user waiting time and staff turnover. All services presented satisfactory results with respect to materials, but none had X-ray equipment. Generally speaking, although the Basic Units and Family Health services received the best evaluations, they do not constitute the preferred user entryway. In the imminence of symptoms, users seek out primarily Emergency Services. doi: 10.5216/ree.v16i3.21408

Delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a town at the triple border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina

Objective. To identify the factors linked to patients and health services in delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Methods. Epidemiological study in Foz do Iguacu, Parana, Brazil, 2009. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for appraising tuberculosis treatment, was the instrument used. Descriptive statistics techniques were used, such as frequency distributions, central tendency and dispersion measurements (median and interquartile intervals), and odds ratios. Results. There were greater delays in seeking health services for those in the age group 60 years and older, for females, for patients with low levels of education, and for patients with poor knowledge of the disease. Clinical variables (being a new case and HIV infection) and behavioral variables (use of tobacco and alcohol consumption) were not linked with delays in diagnosis. The median time delays before diagnosis attributable to patients and to the health services were 30 days and 10 days, respectively. Emergency 24-hour medical services and primary health care services were not effective in identifying suspicious cases of tuberculosis and requesting tests to confirm the diagnosis, with a high percentage of referrals to the Tuberculosis Control Program clinic. Conclusions. Going to primary health care services for diagnosis increased the time before diagnosis of the disease was reached. The Tuberculosis Control Program clinic was more effective in diagnosis of tuberculosis, due to the training of the staff and to an organized process for receiving patients, including the availability of tests to support the diagnosis