Introduction: the panorama of the Latin American countries at present shows that at hospital setting, the concept of pharmaceutical care is adopted, but the practice proves that it continues being focused in drugs and dispensation. The use of easy-to-measure indications to find out the characteristics of the functions related to this exercise may represent the confirmation these realities. Objective: to characterize the practice of pharmaceutical care in hospital institutions. Methods: a retrospective research study was carried out and covered years 2005 through 2007 in hospital institutions of Santiago de Cuba. Some indicators were set on the basis of the criteria for the pharmaceutical care activity included in the Manual de normas y procedimientos de farmacias hospitalarias" and of the criteria found in the international literature. The reported registers of pharmaceutical care sent to the provincial health division were also taken into consideration. Results: the indicators revealed that the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up activities (some indicators over 70 %) exceeded those of health education (barely reaching 5 %) and information about drugs for patients and health professionals (never over 13 %); however, they are not either standardized or permanent. Additionally, the pharmaceutical interventions were well-accepted by the health teams (over 70 % acceptance rate) but they are still insufficient to deal with the number of problems connected with the detected medications. Conclusions: the implementation of the pharmaceutical care is not a regular and standardized practice by the pharmaceutical professional in the studied institutions. The aforementioned points to the need of drawing up strategies to improve this professional endeavor.

Introducción: el panorama de los países de América Latina en la actualidad revela que a nivel hospitalario hay una adopción del concepto de atención farmacéutica, sin embargo, la práctica demuestra que se mantiene el centro de la actividad en el medicamento y su dispensación. El uso de indicadores fácilmente mensurables que permitan conocer las características de las funciones relacionadas con este ejercicio, puede constituirse en una forma de constatar esta realidad. Objetivo: caracterizar la práctica de la atención farmacéutica en instituciones hospitalarias. Métodos: se realizó una investigación retrospectiva que incluyó los años 2005-2007, en instituciones hospitalarias de Santiago de Cuba. Se establecieron indicadores a partir de los criterios normados para la actividad de atención farmacéutica en el Manual de normas y procedimientos de farmacias hospitalarias y criterios establecidos en la literatura internacional. Se partió de los registros informados de dicha actividad a la Dirección Provincial de Salud. Resultados: los indicadores reflejaron que se realizan más las actividades de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico (algunos indicadores relacionados superiores al 70 %), que las de educación sanitaria (no alcanza nunca más del 5 %) e información sobre medicamentos a pacientes y profesionales (no alcanza nunca más del 13 %); pero no se desarrollan de forma normalizada, ni continua. Además, las intervenciones farmacéuticas son bien aceptadas por los equipos de salud (más del 70 % de aceptación), sin embrago, no son suficientes en función del número de problemas relacionados con los medicamentos detectados. Conclusiones: el ejercicio de la atención farmacéutica no es una práctica habitual del profesional farmacéutico en las instituciones estudiadas y no se desarrolla de forma normalizada; esto indica la necesidad de establecer estrategias para el perfeccionamiento de este ejercicio profesional.

Objective: to evaluate the adverse effects detected in the treatments for the elderly patients with pneumonia. Methods: a prospective and descriptive study of pharmacosurveillance was conducted by using the intensive monitoring to hospitalized patient method at the Geriatric Service of "Saturnino Lora Torres" hospital in Santiago de Cuba municipality, from January to December 2008. Results: the most frequent adverse reactions were attributed to the antimicrobials. Nephrotoxicity and pruritus were predominant, and probable and slight adverse drugs reactions predominated according to their causality and clinical significance. Conclusions: the elderly patients carry a group of conditions that make them more prone to adverse drug reactions, hence the great importance of surveillance of suspected reactions in order to contribute to their better quality of life.

Objetivo: evaluar las reacciones adversas detectadas en los tratamientos aplicados a pacientes ancianos con neumonía. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, de farmacovigilancia empleando el método de monitoreo intensivo al paciente hospitalizado, en el Servicio de Geriatría del Hospital Provincial Saturnino Lora Torres de Santiago de Cuba, en el período comprendido desde enero a diciembre de 2008. Resultados: se obtuvo que las reacciones adversas más frecuentes fueron atribuidas a los antimicrobianos. Predominaron la nefrotoxicidad y el prurito, y de acuerdo con su causalidad y significación clínica, las reacciones adversas medicamentosas probables y leves, respectivamente. Conclusiones: los pacientes geriátricos tienen una serie de condiciones que los hace más propensos a la aparición de reacciones adversas medicamentosas, de ahí que cobre gran importancia en la actualidad la vigilancia de las sospechas de estas en aras de contribuir a la mejora de su calidad de vida.

An observational descriptive and prospective study was conducted in 80 elderly people with community-acquired pneumonia, admitted to the Geriatrics Department of "Saturnino Lora" Provincial Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital of Santiago de Cuba, from January to December 2008 to characterize them. Males (53.7%), the age group of 80-89 years (38.7%), those from homes in the city (90.0%), and those living in the districts 1 and 3 (39.0% and 29.0% respectively) predominated in the series. Also, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart failure were the prevalent associated diseases, and in all the patients an empiric therapy was continued.

Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo en 80 ancianos con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad, ingresados en el Servicio de Geriatría del Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico "Saturnino Lora Torres" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre del 2008, a fin de caracterizarlos. En la serie predominaron el sexo masculino (53,7 %), el grupo etario de 80-89 años (38,7 %), los procedentes de domicilios en la ciudad (90,0 %) y los que residían en los distritos 1 y 3 (39,0 y 29,0 %, respectivamente). Asimismo, la hipertensión arterial, la cardiopatía isquémica y la insuficiencia cardíaca fueron las enfermedades asociadas prevalentes y en la totalidad de los afectados se siguió una terapia empírica.

Taking into account the need of a curriculum assuring universal, contextual and flexible university formation that is committed to the social and professional realities of the country, the present paper designed the professional profile of the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate in the University of Oriente, Cuba. To this end, the Professional Performance Model was used; the professional problem, the object of the profession and the professional objectives were defined. On the basis of the articulation of these configurations, the various fields, spheres and modes of performance were established, thus clearly stating the educational and learning objectives that are expected to be attained.

Teniendo en cuenta la necesidad de un currículo que garantice una formación universitaria universal, contextual, flexible y comprometida con la realidad social y profesional, en el presente trabajo se diseñó el perfil profesional que caracterizará al egresado de la Licenciatura en Ciencias Farmacéuticas de la Universidad de Oriente, Cuba. Se utilizó para ello el Modelo de Actuación Profesional; se precisó el problema profesional, el objeto de la profesión y el objetivo profesional, y sobre la base del sentido articulador entre estas configuraciones se definieron los campos, esferas y modos de actuación, dejando explícito, además, los objetivos educativos e instructivos que se aspiran alcanzar.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a racionalidade das prescrições como também os erros mais comuns nas prescrições emitidas pelo Centro de Saúde de uma Universidade no México. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de utilização de medicamentos que requeria prescrição médica. 370 expedientes médicos foram aleatoriamente selecionados e revisados, obtendo uma mostra estatísticamente representativa do total de consultas médicas realizadas no período de um ano. A validade da prescrição médica foi feita utilizando as seguintes variáveis: indicação, doses recomendada, via de administração, contra-indicações, interações, duplicação de medicamentos, medicamentos desnecessários ou faltantes. As prescrições médicas foram classificadas como: apropriada (se não foram encontrados erros nas prescrições) ou inapropriada (se foram encontradas ao menos um erro na prescrição). A razão risco-beneficio foi calculada para cada prescrição médica. O estudo revelou alta incidência de prescrições inapropriadas no Centro de Saúde da Universidade do México (58%), causada pelos erros nas doses recomendadas e na seleção do medicamento relacionado com a necessidade do paciente. Como resultado da análise chi2 , foi encontrado que as variáveis fármaco-terapêuticas escolhidas neste estudo para avaliar a prescrição médica, foram determinantes para classificar as prescrições como apropriadas. Nimesulide, ciprofloxacin, ranitidine, ketorolac e paracetamol representaram o maior número de medicamentos prescritos assim como a maior causa de erros encontradas nas prescrições. É importante que um farmacêutico valide os medicamentos prescritos no Centro de Saúde. Este estudo justifica o papel que os farmacêuticos mexicanos deveriam desempenhar para evitar erros na prescrição, como parte importante da equipe médica, assim como a urgência de implementar os cuidados farmacêuticos em todos os estabelecimentos dos Centros de Saúde no México.

The purpose of this study was to assess prescription rationality and most common prescription errors at the primary care clinic of a Mexican university.A retrospective drug utilization review of indication-prescription type was carried out. A random sample of 370 medical records of patients assisted over a year period, were reviewed. Prescription appropriateness was evaluated according to the variables: indication, dosage regimen, administration route, contraindications, interactions, medication duplicity, unnecessary or missing medications. Prescriptions were rated as appropriate (no prescription errors found) or inappropriate (at least one prescription error found). The benefit-risk ratio was calculated for each prescription. This study revealed a 58% of inappropriate prescriptions in the Mexican primary care university clinic, mostly due to errors on dosage regimen and innapropiate drug selection. As a result of chi2 analysis, it was found that the pharmacotherapeutic variables chosen for the prescription assessment in this study, were determinant in prescription appropriateness rating. Nimesulide, ciprofloxacin, ranitidine, ketorolac and paracetamol were the most prescribed drugs as well as the most common cause of errors found. The prescription error rate revealed by this study addresses the need for strategies to improve prescription's quality. Introducing pharmacists as a key part of health care team is a mean proposed to prevent medication errors and to solve the urgency of pharmaceutical care implementation in all primary care facilities in Mexico.