Ricardo Radighieri Rascado

Strategies to Stimulate Actions for Pharmacovigilance Decentralization

Introduction: Reporting in pharmacovigilance is an indicator for monitoring patient safety; the main limitation of this process is under-reporting. Objectives: To formulate strategies to improve the attitudes and ability of health professionals and the general population, to disseminate knowledge, and to stimulate pharmacovigilance reporting of adverse drug events. Method: Several strategies were implemented between 2009 and 2013 along with the creation of the Universidade Federal de Alfenas Pharmacovigilance Center (CEFAL). Results: The following strategies were implemented: creation of a website, folders, and stickers; educational interventions; lectures; development of alerts and monthly bulletins; scientific research; use of social networking, and extension projects. Of the 248 adverse drug events reported, 195 were adverse drug reactions; 51 were technical defects, and 2 were medication errors. Conclusion – The decentralization of pharmacovigilance centers, such as CEFAL, is a strategy to facilitate actions in pharmacovigilance, as each center can formulate its own teaching, research, and extension strategies with the aim of promoting patient safety.

Análise das prescrições de medicamentos dispensados na Farmácia Escola da UNIFAL-MG doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5892/ruvrv.2012.102.211219

The prescription of drugs is essential in the pharmacotherapeutic treatment bringing important information to the pharmacy and the user. Therefore reduce the occurrence of prescription errors is important for promoting the rational use of medicines. This study analyzed drug prescriptions dispensed in the Pharmacy School of UNIFAL-MG identifying the most frequent mistakes. We analyzed 323 prescriptions between 2006 and 2008. Using the law 5991/73, there was the presence of the following information: readability; professional identification, patient identification, identification of substances, dosage, dosage form, quantity, address and date of consultation; and interactions and pharmacological aspects. Analysis of requirements showed that 30.95% were illegible or difficult to read; 15.78% failure to identify the prescriber; 6.19% lack of assay 4.02% absence of the dosage form; 5.57% description of quantity; 10.52% dosage wrong / incomplete; 43.34% lack of data / address, and 3.10% drugs incompatible. This study demonstrates the poor quality of drug prescriptions, indicating a lack of preparation or even indifference toward the prescribers of drug users. It is necessary to sensitize health professionals to the importance of quality of prescribing to dispensing and administration of medicines and promoting rational use, providing the patient with greater efficacy and safety of its pharmacological treatment.