Pharmacists' interventions in the population of pregnant women and recomandations for pharmacy practice impoveme

Abstract

Introduction. The use of drugs in pregnancy, despite to potential risks, is a very common and necessary. Pharmacists' interventions in the process of drug dispensing to pregnant women may be essential for the use of the safest drug for the foetus. The aim of the study was to explore Serbia pharmacists' interventions in the population of pregnant women and to suggest measures for interventions advancement. Methods. Internet-based study was performed during the period April 1st - May 31th, 2012. The questionnaire, specially designed according to aims of the study, was distributed to pharmacists via their e-mails. Participation in the study was anonymous and voluntarily. Data according to pharmacists' socio-demographics characteristics and their experiences in interventions during drug dispensing to pregnant women were gathered. SPSS software was used in data analysis. Results. The questionnaire was distributed to 2972 pharmacists, 4% accepted to participate. More than half of participants, 57.6%, had experience with dispensing of drug to pregnant women which is not safe for the foetus. In total 47.9% of all participants made a contact with prescriber and warned about potential risk of proscribed drug for the foetus. A less than a half of such interventions, 40.7 %, ended with the change in therapy. Conclusion. Pharmacists could give a significant contribution to prevention of unsafe drug use trough the interventions and consultation with physicians about drug safety for the fetus which is the fondation for development of pharmacy servises derectited to pregnant women.

Upotreba lekova u trudnoći je, uprkos potencijalnim rizicima, veoma česta i neophodna. Intervencije farmaceuta u procesu izdavanja lekova trudnicama mogu biti ključne za upotrebu što bezbednijih lekova za plod. Cilj studije bio je da se ispitaju intervencije farmaceuta u Srbiji kod izdavanja lekova trudnicama i predlože mere za unapređenje navedenih intervencija. Metodologija. U periodu 1. april - 31. maj 2012. godine sprovedeno je istraživanje tokom kog je diplomiranim farmaceutima, putem elektronske pošte, distribuiran upitnik namenski kreiran prema ciljevima istraživanja. Popunjavanje upitnika bilo je anonimno i dobrovoljno. Prikupljeni su socio-demografski podaci o farmaceutima, i podaci o njihovim intervencijama tokom izdavanja lekova trudnicama. Obrada podataka rađena je upotrebom SPSS softvera. Rezultati. Od ukupno 2972 farmaceuta kojima je upitnik dostavljen, 4% prihvatilo je da učestvuje u istraživanju i popunilo je upitnik. Više od polovine učesnika istraživanja, 57,6%, susrelo se tokom svog radnog veka sa propisivanjem nebezbednog leka za plod na receptu namenjenom trudnici. Ukupno 47,9% od ukupnog broja ispitanih farmaceuta kontaktiralo je lekara zbog propisivanja nebezbednog leka trudnici, tj. sprovela je intervenciju i upozorila lekara o potencijalnim rizicima od propisane terapije za plod. Nešto manje od polovine intervencija, 40,7%, završeno je promenom terapije od strane lekara. Zaključak. Farmaceuti mogu dati značajan doprinos u sprečavanju upotrebe nebezbednih lekova za plod putem intervencije informisanja lekara o bezbednosti lekova za plod što predstavlja osnovu za razvoj farmaceutske usluge posvećene trudnicama.