title: Training of pharmacy technicians for dispensing drugs in Primary Health Care.
abstract: Few Brazilian articles discuss the importance of pharmacy technicians who offer direct assistance to patients. This paper describes an experience of the training of pharmacy technicians in drug dispensing. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the primary healthcare setting. The technicians were trained by the pharmacist to advise patients at the time of drug dispensing and to screen cases that needed pharmaceutical consultation. Problems were identified by verifying the prescription and return date for dispensing the medication as well as through direct questioning of the patients. Flowcharts for problem identification and intervention were created for use by the technicians. After training, pharmacy technicians identified 3944 problems, the most common of which were the use of a lower dosage than that prescribed (26%) and non-adherence to pharmacological treatment. The findings of the present study demonstrate the importance of training pharmacy technicians with regard to dispensing drugs so that they can assist pharmacists in the process of identifying and solving drug-related problems, thereby making them active members of the care process in the public health system.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. R. Professor Arthur Riedel 275, Eldorado. 09972-270 Diadema SP Brasil. melo.daniela@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Daniela Oliveira de
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo SP Brasil.
authors.forename: Caroline Godoi Rezende da Costa
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo SP Brasil.
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, USP. São Paulo SP Brasil.
authors.forename: Nicolina Silvana
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Romano-Lieber
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role