Sonia Andrea Naeko Uema

Barriers to pharmaceutical care in Argentina

Objective To identify the perceived barriers to implementing pharmaceutical care in Argentina. Method A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to carry out a cross-sectional descriptive study. The questionnaires were distributed in different continuing professional development events for pharmacists during November–December 2005. Results Ninety completed questionnaires were collected with the following distribution: 16.7% at the national congress of hospital pharmacy, 18.9% after a conference, 64.4% during two courses related to pharmaceutical care. The surveyed pharmacists work for community pharmacies (76.7%), hospital/institutional pharmacies (20.0%) and primary care centers (2.2%). The most important barriers mentioned were lack of time, lack of specific training and lack of communication skills. Conclusion The opinions of Argentinian pharmacists from different places and professional practice settings were obtained. In all work settings, “lack of time” is the main barrier to overcome for implementing pharmaceutical care.

EFECTOS DE LA INTERVENCIÓN FARMACÉUTICA EN PACIENTES CON PRESIÓN ARTERIAL ELEVADA SIN TRATAMIENTO FARMACOLÓGICO EN FARMACIAS COMUNITARIAS DE LA PROVINCIA DE CÓRDOBA

Objective: to determine the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in patients with no pharmacological treatment for hypertension and assess the effect of pharmaceutical intervention (PI) on patients with high BP. Method: observational descriptive prospective study carried out in two phases at community pharmacies in the province of Cordoba. Result of PI was classified in three categories and the effect was evaluated by the variation of BP values. Results: 36 community pharmacies and 687 patients participated. A 41.8% had high BP. PI was done on 281 patients and it was positive in 87.9%. Regarding the effect of PI, 75.4% of patients reduced their BP values in at least one category. Conclusions: PIs were positive in most cases, and in 3 out of 4 patients it was possible to reduce BP values at least in one category.

Regulatory issues on pharmacovigilance in Latin American countries

Fil: Olivera, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Unidad de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Tecnologia Farmaceutica. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas. Unidad de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Tecnologia Farmaceutica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina

Imagen profesional de farmacias comunitarias: causas y estrategias de mejora aplicando técnicas de investigación cualitativa

Objetivo Conocer las opiniones de los farmaceuticos con relacion a los factores que explican la falta de visibilidad de la farmacia comunitaria como establecimiento sanitario y proponer estrategias de desarrollo profesional a fin de lograr mejorar la accesibilidad a los servicios profesionales mediante tecnicas de investigacion cualitativa. Material y metodos Se utilizo una Tecnica de Grupo Nominal (TGN) en 2 rondas sucesivas, respondiendo a 2 consignas guia sobre factores y estrategias. Posteriormente se realizo un Framework analysis. Resultados Se aportaron 34 ideas referidas a factores y 32 a estrategias. Las estrategias fueron agrupadas en 14 temas, destacandose las vinculadas a la priorizacion de los servicios profesionales orientados a los pacientes, al cumplimiento de la etica y a la formacion continua del farmaceutico. Discusion Las tecnicas utilizadas permitieron evidenciar situaciones percibidas por los farmaceuticos que no estan formalmente descriptas en la literatura. Aumentar la visibilidad de los servicios profesionales en las farmacias comunitarias implica acordar y abordar estrategias que deben sustentarse en la participacion conjunta de los propios farmaceuticos, las asociaciones profesionales y las universidades.