ABSTRACT Objective To determine the frequency of drug therapy problems among older adults in Primary Health Care, and to analyze the factors associated with their identification in the initial patient assessment, carried out by pharmacists offering medication therapy management services. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted with data from 758 older adults followed up in medication therapy management services in Primary Health Care in the cities of Belo Horizonte, Betim, and Lagoa Santa (MG, Brazil). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with identification of four or more drug therapy problems in the initial clinical assessment. Results A total of 1,683 drug therapy problems were identified, 73.6% of older patients had at least one problem. The most frequent problems were nonadherence (23.0%) and the need for additional drug therapy (18.0%). Polypharmacy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and aged 75 years or older remained positively and statistically associated with identification of four or more drug therapy problems (p<0.05). Conclusion There is a high frequency of problems related to medication use among older users of Primary Health Care, and the medication therapy management services should be prioritized to the older patients, who present with polypharmacy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and age ≥ 75 years, since they are more likely to have more drug therapy problems.

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender os elementos essenciais do processo de sistematização da prática clínica de uma farmacêutica da atenção primária à saúde com base no referencial teórico-metodológico da atenção farmacêutica, que subsidia o serviço clínico de gerenciamento da terapia medicamentosa. Tratou-se de pesquisa qualitativa autoetnográfica, construída de forma colaborativa entre os autores, de outubro de 2014 a outubro de 2015, nos Centros de Saúde da Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte, onde uma das autoras trabalha. Os dados foram produzidos por meio de observação participante, diários de campo, reflexões e entrevistas semiestruturadas com farmacêuticos que desenvolviam prática clínica na atenção primária à saúde. Os resultados evidenciaram que os principais elementos para sistematização da prática clínica passam pela ‘construção de uma nova identidade profissional na equipe multiprofissional’ e pela ‘incorporação de novas atividades na rotina de trabalho’ que, combinadas, resultam em uma ‘proposta de integração de um serviço de gerenciamento da terapia medicamentosa nos fluxos das unidades de saúde’. Dessa forma, para que o farmacêutico possa legitimar o seu papel no cuidado do paciente, é preciso mudar, transformar, reorganizar e reconstruir a sua prática.

Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the essential elements of the systematization process of the clinical practice of a pharmacist in primary health care. This systematization was based on the framework of pharmaceutical care practice, which provides the foundation for comprehensive medication management services. The methodology utilized was autoetnography, built collaboratively between the authors. The data have been produced through participant observation, field journals, reflections and semi structured interviews with pharmacists who are building clinical practices in primary health care. The results have demonstrated that the main elements associated with the systematization of clinical practices are ‘the construction of a new professional identity in a multiprofessional team’ as well as ‘the incorporation of new activities in the work routine’, that, combined, result in ‘Integration of comprehensive medication management services in the flow of the health unit’. In this way, in order for the pharmacist to legitimize his role in patient care, it is necessary to change, to transform, to reorganize and to rebuild his practice.

Resumen Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender los elementos esenciales del proceso de sistematización de la práctica clínica del farmacéutico en la atención primaria de salud a partir del marco teórico de la atención farmacéutica, que subvenciona los servicios de gestión integral de la farmacoterapia. Auto etnografía fue la metodología cualitativa utilizada, construida en colaboración entre los autores. Los datos fueron producidos a través de observación participante, diarios de campo, reflexiones y entrevistas semiestructuradas con los farmacéuticos que desarrollan la práctica clínica en atención primaria de salud. Los resultados mostraron que los principales elementos para la sistematización de la práctica clínica son la ‘Construcción de una nueva identidad profesional en equipo multiprofesional’ y la ‘Incorporación de nuevas actividades en el trabajo de rutina’ que, combinados, dan lugar a una ‘propuesta de integración del servicio de gestión integral de la farmacoterapia en los flujos de las unidades de salud’. Por lo tanto, para que el farmacéutico pueda legitimar su papel en la atención al paciente, es necesario cambiar, transformar, reorganizar y reconstruir su práctica.