IMPROVEMENT OF PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC QUALITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH GERIATRIC PATIENTS

Objective: To evaluate the results of pharmaceutical actions (PA) in the prevention or resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs) in a hospital's public health geriatric patients with the purpose of improving the quality of pharmacotherapy. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and observational study over a three-month period. For the detection of DRPs in the prescription validation process, we created pre-defined criteria about potentially inappropriate drugs, as well as those that should be indicated, in the geriatric patient, based on the de Beers and STOPP-START criteria. PAs were recorded using the laser methodology. Results: We detected 72 DRPs in 46 patients: 26 DRPs related to safety (36.11%), 25 with effectiveness (34.72%) and 21 with indication (29.17%). 65 pharmacotherapeutic recommendations were given, being accepted 62 times (95.39%) by the healthcare professionals. The impact or value added of these PAs was of 41%. Regarding the suitability and result in the patient, of the accepted PAs 60 (96.77%) were significant in improving the patient's healthcare, and in 57 (91.94%) there was a positive outcome without the possibility of any documentation. Conclusions: The performed PAs have improved the quality of pharmacotherapy in the public health geriatric patient. The use of pre-defined criteria for detecting DRPs in the prescription validation, together with the recording of PAs through a standardized system, is shown as an effective method for identifying DRPs in the hospital.