Influence of Pharmaceutical Care intervention and communication skills on the improvement of pharmacotherapeutic outcomes with elderly Brazilian outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of Pharmaceutical Care intervention on the results obtained with a group of elderly outpatients and to analyze the communication skills used by healthcare professionals (research pharmacists, dispensing pharmacists, and physicians) during counseling about healthcare and drug therapy.


METHODS
The instruments were applied to 30 elderly outpatients assisted at the pharmacy of a primary healthcare unit in Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. The group of patients received follow-up for a period of 12 months.


RESULTS
It was observed that Pharmaceutical Care intervention and humanized communication, of an educational nature, optimized the use of medication, reduced symptoms caused by drug therapy, and improved the health conditions of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmaceutical Care intervention was essential for the establishment of therapeutic relationships and influenced the care given to elderly people as well as the achievement of positive health outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
After this study, Pharmaceutical Care programs were implemented in different PHCU's of Ribeirão Preto and pharmacists are following-up 300 elderly patients.
Lyra
Divaldo P
DP
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. lyra_jr@hotmail.com
Rocha
Chiara E
CE
Abriata
Juliana P
JP
Gimenes
Fernanda R E
FR
Gonzalez
Manuel Machuca
MM
Pelá
Irene R
IR
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*