Abstract Objective: To characterize the inclusion of the teaching of communication skills in the curriculum of Pharmacy Schools of Federal Institutions of Higher Education. Methods: An exploratory study of documental analysis of curriculum of Pharmacy Schools was carried out. A convenience sample was selected from undergraduate pharmacy courses of Federal Institutions of Higher Education (IFES). The variables collected were related to the identification of the course, its nature (elective or mandatory), workload, semester, and program content. Results: Among the 49 undergraduate pharmacy courses of IFES, 35 (71.4%) had their curriculum available online. The teaching of communication in health was identified in 26 (74.3%) curriculum. In this study, three courses (7.2%) specifically aimed at teaching communication skills, while 39 (92.9%) had content related to this subject. Most courses (22; 52.4%) belonged to the field of Social, Behavioral, and Administrative Sciences. As for the course period, there was a concentration in the third (19%) and fourth (28.6%) years. The main content present in the curriculum was related to the principles and techniques of health communication (42.8%). Conclusions: Data obtained enabled the identification of gaps in the curricula of undergraduate courses in pharmacy concerning the inclusion of the teaching of communication skills. These results can be used to reflect the current models adopted in Brazil for the teaching of this skills, especially after the recent publication of the new curricular guidelines for undergraduate pharmacy courses.

Abstract Objective: To measure undergraduate pharmacy and medical students’ collaborative attitudes regarding Pharmacist-Physician collaboration. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2016 to February 2017 in Northeast Brazil. Pharmacy and medical students from the first and the last year of courses were invited to complete Portuguese version of Scale of Attitudes Toward Pharmacist-Physician Collaboration (SATP2C). Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (22 version). Differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Results: Three hundred seventy students completed the SATP2C. Overall, the students had positive attitudes towards physician-pharmacist collaboration. There was no significant correlation between age and score (p=0.79). Women showed a more positive collaborative attitude than men (53.1, SD=6.8 vs. 55.1, SD=6.3). Pharmacy students had a higher score than medical students (57.5, SD=4.7, vs. 51.1, SD=6.4). The first-year medical students had a higher score than last-year medical students (52.3, SD=6.0 vs. 49.5, SD=6.6; p<0.007). There was no significant difference in the attitudes between the first and last year pharmacy students (p<0.007). Conclusions: Pharmacy and medical students showed positive attitudes towards physician-pharmacist collaboration. However, pharmacy students presented more collaborative attitudes than medical ones. Additionally, the first-year medical students had more collaborative attitudes than last-year medical students. Studies should be conducted to provide recommendations to improve interprofessional education efforts to further enhance the positive attitudes toward physician-pharmacist collaboration.

Fundamento:Intervenções eficazes para melhorar a adesão à terapia medicamentosa são geralmente complexas e caras.Objetivo:Avaliar o impacto de uma intervenção de baixo custo delineada para melhorar a adesão à medicação e desfechos clínicos em pacientes no pós-alta com DCV.Método:Um ECR - estudo piloto foi realizado em um hospital-escola. A intervenção foi baseada na escala de adesão terapêutica de Morisky de quatro itens - MMAS-4. O desfecho primário medido foi a avaliação da adesão à medicação utilizando a MMAS de oito itens no momento da alta, 1 mês após a alta hospitalar, e a reavaliação 1 ano depois da alta. Outros resultados incluíram reinternação e as taxas de mortalidade.Resultados:Foram randomizados 61 pacientes para grupos de intervenção (n = 30) e controle (n = 31). A idade média dos pacientes foi de 61 anos (DP 12,73), 52,5% eram do sexo masculino e 57,4% eram casados ou moravam com parceiro (a). O número médio de medicamentos prescritos por paciente foi de 4,5 (DP 3,3). A adesão à medicação foi correlacionada à intervenção (p = 0,04) e após 1 mês, 48,4% dos pacientes do grupo controle e 83,3% no grupo de intervenção foram considerados aderentes. No entanto, essa diferença diminuiu depois de 1 ano, quando a adesão foi de 34,8% e 60,9%, respectivamente. As taxas de readmissão e de mortalidade foram relacionadas à baixa adesão nos dois grupos.Conclusão:A intervenção com base em um instrumento validado de auto-relato do paciente para avaliar a adesão é um método potencialmente eficaz para melhorar o comportamento aderente e pode ser usado com sucesso como uma ferramenta para orientar o aconselhamento da adesão na visita clínica. No entanto, um estudo maior é necessário para avaliar o real impacto da intervenção sobre esses desfechos.

Background:Effective interventions to improve medication adherence are usually complex and expensive.Objective:To assess the impact of a low-cost intervention designed to improve medication adherence and clinical outcomes in post-discharge patients with CVD.Method:A pilot RCT was conducted at a teaching hospital. Intervention was based on the four-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4). The primary outcome measure was medication adherence assessed using the eight-item MMAS at baseline, at 1 month post hospital discharge and re-assessed 1 year after hospital discharge. Other outcomes included readmission and mortality rates.Results:61 patients were randomized to intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 31) groups. The mean age of the patients was 61 years (SD 12.73), 52.5% were males, and 57.4% were married or living with a partner. Mean number of prescribed medications per patient was 4.5 (SD 3.3). Medication adherence was correlated to intervention (p = 0.04) and after 1 month, 48.4% of patients in the control group and 83.3% in the intervention group were considered adherent. However, this difference decreased after 1 year, when adherence was 34.8% and 60.9%, respectively. Readmission and mortality rates were related to low adherence in both groups.Conclusion:The intervention based on a validated patient self-report instrument for assessing adherence is a potentially effective method to improve adherent behavior and can be successfully used as a tool to guide adherence counseling in the clinical visit. However, a larger study is required to assess the real impact of intervention on these outcomes.

Background: Headache, or cephalalgia, is one of the 20 most disabling diseases in the world and affects a large portion of the world´s population. People generally use over-the-counter medications to treat headaches and other minor symptoms. A pharmacist should help patients choose the most effective, safe, and convenient pharmacotherapeutic option. Objective: To assess the counselling skills of community pharmacists for headache management by using the simulated patient approach. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2010 to July 2010. Data were obtained from a convenience sample consisting of one pharmacist from each of the 24 participating community pharmacies. In order to evaluate the pharmacists´ counselling skills, a simulated patient role played a standardized headache case requesting self-medication. The interactions of the simulated patient with the pharmacists were audiovisually recorded using a hidden micro camera, and these recordings were analysed using a validated questionnaire. Results: Of the 24 evaluated pharmacists, 19 (79.1%) were women. Information was spontaneously provided by 15 (62.5%) pharmacists. At least one question was asked by the pharmacist to assess the signs and symptoms. Most pharmacists (n=17, 70.8%) recommended sodium dipyrone, either alone or in combination with other drugs. The most discussed items in the simulation visits were contraindications (n=17, 70.8%), indications (n=10, 41.6%), and drug administration times (n=8, 33.3%). None of the pharmacists recommended any non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives. The overall impressions of the pharmacists´ professional counselling skills ranged from poor to fair. Conclusion: This study showed that the pharmacists´ counselling skills and the guidance provided by the pharmacists to the simulated patient were insufficient for the satisfactory management of headache.

Antecedentes: El dolor de cabeza o cefalea es una de las 20 enfermedades más incapacitantes en el mundo y afecta a una gran parte de la población mundial. La gente utiliza generalmente medicamentos OTC para tratar los dolores de cabeza y otros síntomas menores. Un farmacéutico debería ayudar a los pacientes a elegir la opción farmacoterapéutica más efectiva, segura y conveniente. Objetivo: Evaluar las habilidades de los farmacéuticos comunitarios para el manejo del dolor de cabeza utilizando un abordaje de paciente simulado. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal entre marzo 2010 y julio 2010. Se obtuvieron datos de una muestra de conveniencia consistente en un farmacéutico de cada 24 farmacias comunitarias participantes. Para evaluar las habilidades de asesoramiento de los farmacéuticos, un paciente simulado recreó un caso estandarizado de dolor de cabeza solicitando auto-medicación. Las interacciones del paciente simulado con el farmacéutico fueron audiovisualmente grabadas utilizando una micro-cámara oculta, y estas grabaciones fueron analizadas utilizando un cuestionario validado. Resultados: De los 24 farmacéuticos evaluados, 19 (79,1%) eran mujeres. 15 farmacéuticos (62,5%) proporcionaron información espontáneamente. El farmacéutico pregunto al menos una pregunta para evaluar los síntomas. La mayoría de los farmacéuticos (n=17, 70,8%) recomendó dipirona sódica, sóla o en combinación con otros medicamentos. Los ítems más discutidos en las visitas simuladas fueron las contraindicaciones (n=17, 70,8%), la indicación (n=10, 41,6%), y la frecuencia de administración (n=8, 33,3%). Ninguno de los farmacéuticos recomendó alguna alternativa terapéutica no farmacológica. La impresión general de las habilidades de asesoramiento profesional de los farmacéuticos osciló entre pobre y moderada. Conclusión: Este estudio mostró que las habilidades de asesoramiento de los farmacéuticos y los consejos proporcionados al paciente simulado fueron insuficientes para el manejo satisfactorio del dolor de cabeza.