Marysabel Pinto Telis Silveira

Tracking of Medicine Use and Self-Medication From Infancy to Adolescence: 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study

Purpose To track the use of medicine and self-medication from infancy to adolescence. Methods All newborns in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, were monitored and enrolled in the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Subsamples of the cohort were visited at 1, 3, and 6 months and at 1 and 4 years of age. At 11 and 15 years of age, all cohort members were sought. In each of these visits, information on medicine use in the 15 days before the interview was collected. Two outcomes were analyzed: prevalence of medicine use and prevalence of self-medication. Results Prevalence of medicine use in the first year of life ranged from 52.0% to 68.6%. From 4 to 15 years of age, the prevalence decreased, ranging from 30.9% to 37.2%. At age 15, girls presented a 33% higher prevalence of medicine use than boys. The proportion of self-medication ranged from 12.4% to 29.0% and was higher in girls aged 11 and 15 years than boys of the same age. In all follow-up periods, use of medicines was significantly higher among children who used medicines in the earlier period. Prevalence of self-medication was higher among those who were self-medicated in the previous periods. Conclusions Tracking studies are important to public health because they can predict future behavior by analyzing past behavior, thus helping in designing preventive actions. In this study, previous use of medicines predicts future use, thus creating an opportunity to plan actions that promote the rational use of medicines.

Self-medication among adolescents aged 18 years: the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study.

Purpose To estimate the point prevalence of self-medication among adolescents aged 18 years and to evaluate the type of drugs used (either over-the-counter or prescription drugs) and socioeconomic, health-related, and behavioral correlates of self-medication. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Data were obtained through the administration of a questionnaire to adolescents aged 18 years. The outcome variables were point prevalence of medicine use and self-medication collected by self-report. The independent variables studied were gender, continuous medicine use, socioeconomic status, schooling, self-rated health, body mass index, and physical activity levels. Medicines were classified into therapeutic groups according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. Results A total of 4,106 adolescents were interviewed. The point prevalence of medicine use was 41.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.6–42.6), and the proportion of self-medication among medicine users was 65.1% (95% CI 62.8–67.4). The point prevalence of self-medication was 26.7% (95% CI 25.4–28.1), and it was higher among female adolescents, those more educated, and those who rated their health as poor. Out of the drugs used for self-medication (58% of all drugs used), 1,003 (78.7%) were nonprescription drugs and 271 (21.3%) were prescription drugs. The most frequently used drugs for self-medication were analgesics (56.1%), systemic antihistamines (7.4%), and anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products (7.1%). Conclusions A high point prevalence of self-medication was found among adolescents, which is particularly concerning due to high use of prescription drugs for self-medication. Interventions are needed to promote rational use of medicines in this population.

Factors associated with therapeutic success in HIV-positive individuals in southern Brazil

Therapeutic success is characterized by undetectable viral load, immune reconstitution confirmed by CD4+ T‐cell count and no clinical manifestations of disease. High treatment adherence is a major determinant of therapeutic success that needs prevention of viral replication, allowing immune reconstitution. Adherence to treatment <95% has been associated with both immune and viral failure. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with therapeutic success in adult patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in a specialized centre for HIV‐AIDS in southern Brazil, being defined therapeutic success as achieving and maintaining undetectable viral load, stable immune status (CD4+ T lymphocyte count ≥200 cells/mm3) and adherence to HAART ≥ 95%.

Pharmaceutical interventions in antiretroviral therapy: systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials

High levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) are needed to achieve the desired results. Because pharmaceutical care might contribute to improved adherence to treatment, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of pharmaceutical interventions on ART via a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCT).

Long-term immune and virological response in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

The trajectory of HIV viral load and CD4 count and the occurrence of clinical events are primary considerations in the evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) success or failure, yet a large number of studies do not describe these events from the point of therapy initiation. This study aims to describe the virological and immune response to ART and factors associated with immune and virological success in outpatients from a HIV/AIDS clinic in southern Brazil from therapy initiation.

Avaliação da Assistência Farmacêutica em um município no Sul do Brasil

Introduction: Well-planned and executed pharmaceutical services (PS) are important for proper treatment of the populations health needs, thus enabling the access to essential drugs and promoting their rational use. Objective: To assess the situation of PS in the city of Uruguaiana (State of Rio Grande do Sul), Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study was applied to 650 interviews between June and September of 2013 in 11 Basic Health Units (UBS) and in the Main Pharmacy of the city. The indicators of prescription, of patients care, and of service, were assessed according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).The Instrument of Self-Assessment for Pharmaceutical Services Planning (IAPAF) from the Brazilian Department of Health was used to assess the management and planning capacity of the PS, which was then applied in the Main Pharmacy and in the medicine stockroom. Results: The number of drugs per prescription varied from 1 to 10 (mean = 1.7). The percentages of prescribed drugs by generic name, and included in the City List of Essential Drugs (REMUME) were, respectively, 75.5 and 67.7%; antibiotics were prescribed in 9.7% of the medical appointments. The average time of medical appointment was 6 minutes; 51.4% of the users obtained their prescription; only 18.9% of the patients completely understood their prescriptions. Of the 24 items analyzed in the IAPAF, 12 were found in stage 1 (worst rating), 12 in stage 2, and none in stage 3 (ideal situation). Conclusion: Results seem to show the lack of PS in Uruguaiana with regard to planning, management, and patients care. The absence of effective management may result in waste and incorrect use of drugs.