CLINICAL AND PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC PROFILE OF PATIENTSWITH RENEWAL PERSCRIPTION AND WITHOUT MEDICAL CONSULTATION: DESCRIPTION STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Repeat prescribing without medical consultation is a major reason for Primary Health Care demand in Portugal. There is no procedure to regulate RPSCM and the dimension of this reality is not known, nor the clinical and therapeutic profile of the patients that do RPSCM. Objective: To quantify and to characterize RPSCM in the region of Beira Interior, Portugal. Methods: We performed a descriptive observational study in a community pharmacy in Covilhã. In a sample of 513 patients, who, in sequence, showed renewal of prescription drugs, were selected patients who had a RPSCM. All selected patients were subject to an interview to obtain demographic, clinical and therapeutic information. Results and Conclusions: In the whole sample, 199 patients presented 200 RPSCM, which allow to estimate a prevalence of RPSCM of 38.99% (CI 95%; 34.77-43.21). Patients, who do RPSCM, were mostly women (65.5%), aged over 65 years (62.0%) and pensioners (74.5%). The conditions that most often led to RPSCM were hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insomnia, depression and osteoporosis, also corresponding to the therapeutic areas with more RPSCM. The RPSCM increases patient’s access to therapy and contributes to the rational medicines use. Monitoring this intervention is essential to optimize therapeutic results, leading to a better quality of life and reduced costs and waste in health care. It is essential the involvement of patients and different health professionals such as pharmacists who must go through specialized training.

Keywords

• Repeat prescribing
• repeat prescription
• medication
• health centre
• community pharmacy