Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of human mortality. As highly accessible and qualified health professionals, community pharmacists can be included in the early detection of patients at risk for CVD by implementing CVD screening programs. Objective: To assess the feasibility of CVD risk screening services in Portuguese community pharmacies from the evaluation of customers acceptability. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community pharmacy in Portugal. The purpose of entering the pharmacy was recorded for all customers. Afterwards, the customers were invited to be interviewed by the pharmacist, who registered their willingness to participate and collected the participants' data and biochemical and physical parameters to assess their CV risk by applying the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) model. For the participants who were not eligible for the SCORE-based risk assessment, the pharmacist considered the major modifiable CVD risk factors - hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking habits, obesity, impaired fasting glucose and sedentary behavior - according to the ESC guidelines. Results: Picking up medication was the most prevalent reason 69.8% (n=1,600) for entering the pharmacy, and among the contacted customers, 56.4% (n=621) agreed to have their CVD risk assessed. Of the 588 participants, 56.6% (n=333) were already on CV pharmacotherapy and were therefore not eligible for screening. Of the 43.4% (n=255) CV pharmacotherapy-naïve participants, 94.9% (n=242) were screened with at least one CVD risk factor; 52.9% (n=135) were not eligible for the SCORE assessment, of which 92.6% (n=125) presented CVD risk factors. Of the 120 SCORE eligible participants, 80.0% (n=96) were at least at moderate risk of CVD. Conclusions: We determined the feasibility of CVD risk screening in Portuguese community pharmacies, as we found high customer acceptability, noted the reasons for nonattendance, and found a high prevalence of CVD risk factors in at-risk patients. This is an opportunity for Portuguese community pharmacists to take a leading role in the early detection of CVD.

Background: A correct selection of drugs prescribed, but also the choice of the appropriate inhaler device, is crucial for the control of respiratory diseases. Objective: To evaluate the inhaler technique and identify potential errors of patients when treated with inhalers by testing a routinary procedure to be implemented in any community pharmacy. Methods: Adults with asthma/COPD and under inhalation therapy were invited to demonstrate how they use their inhalers. After direct observation it was registered whether all the sequential steps included in the summary of product characteristics (SmPC) were performed. Results: The study involved 67 patients from 4 community pharmacies (Portugal central region): 34 (50.7%) males, 65.4 (SD=18.28) years old, 42 (62.7%) with COPD, and 23 (34.3%) using more than one inhaler. The 67 patients used 95 inhalers, comprising: 57 (60.0%) multiple dose DPI (dry powder inhalers), 18 (18.9%) single dose DPI, 16 (16.8%) pMDI (pressurized metered dose inhalers), 2 (2.1%) pMDI+spacer and 2 (2.1%) SMI (soft mist inhalers). No errors were made only by 9 (13.4%) patients. In the 75 DPIs techniques, the most frequent errors were ‘no previous forced expiration’ (46=61.3%) and ‘no 10s apnea after inhalation’ (51=68.0%); in the 16 pMDIs techniques common errors were ‘lack of hand-lung coordination’ (7=43.8 %), ‘no previous forced exhalation’ (8=50.0%) and ‘no apnea after inhalation’ (10=62.5%). After inhaling from 56 devices containing corticosteroids, 34 (60.7%) of the patients did not wash their mouth. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the possibility of performing this procedure routinely in Portuguese community pharmacies and also its utility, since 58 (87%) of patients had at least one error during the inhalers use.

ABSTRACT We aim to validate a European-Portuguese version of the Hypertension Knowledge Test (HKT) questionnaire and examine its factorial structure with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A process of translation and back-translation was performed. A cross-sectional study was developed in which all adult patients taking at least one antihypertensive drug were invited to participate. Data on personal and family history were collected, and the HKT, Strelec, and the Batalla questionnaires were administered. We enrolled 304 patients with a mean age of 68.12±10.83 years. The mean score of HKT was 15.33±2.79. CFA indicated that the construct being tested was unidimensional, and Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.65) showed that the instrument had an acceptable internal consistency. When evaluating concurrent validity, HKT was significantly correlated with the Batalla and Strelec scores. Thus, the Portuguese version of HKT (HKT-pt-PT) can be used either in research or in clinical practice. With this version, a potential standard exists to evaluate knowledge about hypertension, which could avoid the practice of using non-validated questionnaires in Portugal and allow the cross-sectional and longitudinal comparability of studies.

Antecedentes: Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, el tabaco es una de las mayores amenazas del mundo, siendo urgente promover el abandono tabáquico. La efectividad de las intervenciones farmacéuticas en cesación tabáquica ha sido documentada en la literatura, pero no en Portugal. Objetivo: Comunicar los resultados preliminares de un estudio para evaluar la efectividad de un programa de cesación tabáquica desarrollado en farmacias comunitarias portuguesas usando un régimen de out-sourcing. Métodos: En el ámbito de un programa de atención farmacéutica implantado en siete farmacias por un farmacéutico externalizado, se desarrolló una consulta de cesación tabáquica siguiendo las recomendaciones e instrumentos de la Dirección General de Salud de Portugal. Se identificó a los fumadores y el personal de la farmacia durante sus actividades rutinarias les invitó a unirse al programa. Los que aceptaban firmaban un consentimiento informado. Mediante consultas presenciales y telefónicas y a través de un abordaje global del paciente, se definieron en acuerdo con el paciente planes personalizados de abandono del tabaquismo. La efectividad del servicio se midió mediante las tasas de cesación a 1, 6 y 12 meses. Las variables continuas se expresaron como media ± error estándar de la media. Resultados: Durante aproximadamente 5 años (entre enero 2009 y julio 2014), 69 fumadores se unieron al programa. De estos, 17 desistieron durante la primera consulta. Entre los restantes 52 pacientes, tenían 47.4 ± 2.11 años y el 55,8% eran hombres. Se realizaron 264 consultas farmacéuticas y, en media cada paciente recibió 7.7 ± 0.81 intervenciones. La mayoría de las intervenciones (60,1%) eran farmacológicas (p.e. productos de substitución de nicotina), y el restante 39,9% fueron medidas no farmacológicas (p.e. entrevista motivacional). Cinco pacientes fueron remitidos al médico. Después de 1 mes de la fecha convenida para el inicio de la cesación, 37 pacientes (53,6%) estaban en abstinencia; 6 meses más tarde el número se reducía a 24 (34,8%) y un año más tarde 16 pacientes (23,2%) permanecían abstinentes.Conclusión: La implantación de un programa de casación tabáquica en farmacias comunitarias, utilizando un farmacéutico externo, puede contribuir efectivamente a la cesación tabáquica en Portugal.

Background: According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco use is one of the most widespread public health threats in the world, making it particularly urgent to promote smoking cessation. The effectiveness of pharmacist interventions in smoking cessation has been documented in the international literature, but not sufficiently in Portugal. Objective: To report the preliminary results of study to assess the effectiveness of a smoking cessation programme delivered in Portuguese community pharmacies using an outsorcing-based regimen. Methods: Within the scope of a pharmaceutical care programme implemented in seven community pharmacies by an outsourced pharmacist, a specific consultation for smoking cessation was developed, in accordance with Portugal's General Directorate of Health's recommendations and instruments. The smokers were identified and invited to join the programme by the pharmacy staff during their daily activities. Patients that accepted signed an informed consent. Through several face-to-face and phone consultations and based on a comprehensive patient approach, personalised plans to quit tobacco were defined with the patients' agreement. The effectiveness of the service was assessed through the evaluation of quit rates at 1, 6 and 12 months. The continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. Results: During approximately 5 years (between January 2009 and July 2014), 69 smokers joined the programme. Of these, 17 desisted during the first consultation. Of the remaining 52 patients, the mean age was 47.4 ± 2.11 years old and 55.8% were male. A total of 264 pharmaceutical consultations were delivered and, on average, each patient received 7.7 ± 0.81 interventions. Most interventions (60.1%) were pharmacological (e.g. nicotine replacement products), while non-pharmacological measures (e.g. motivational interviewing) represented 39.9%. Five patients were referred to a physician. At 1 month after the quit date, 37 patients were abstinent (53.6%); 6 months later the number reduced to 24 (34.8%) and, 1 year later, 16 patients remained abstinent (23.2%). Conclusions: The implementation of a smoking cessation programme in community pharmacies using an external pharmacist may contribute effectively to tobacco cessation in Portugal.

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a questionnaire to measure perceived symptoms associated with antihypertensive drugs (PERSYVE). Methods: The PERSYVE development and validation included four stages: 1) item development (bibliographic review and questionnaire elaboration); 2) face and content validation; 3) field testing (pre-test); and 4) test-retest validation, assessment of internal consistency (Cronbach´s alpha) and reproducibility over time (intraclass correlation coefficient and Cohen´s kappa coefficient). Results: PERSYVE is divided into six sections according to results obtained from the literature review: (1) drug adherence, (2) perceived symptoms and how they affect quality of life (five-point Likert scale), (3) communication with health professionals, (4) perception of symptoms as adverse reactions, (5) influence on therapy compliance, and (6) adoption of non-pharmacological methods for blood pressure control. Content and face validation of the questionnaire led to some vocabulary changes and the introduction of section 2.1. Field-testing (n=26) revealed high comprehensibility of the questions. The Cronbach's alpha, calculated for section 2 (five-point Likert scale) was 0.850. PERSYVE was reproducible (n=167): kappa values presented fair to substantial reproducibility and, in section 2, ICC values resulted in good to excellent reproducibility. Conclusion: Results showed that PERSYVE is a well-structured, objective, patient-friendly, valid and reliable questionnaire. PERSYVE can be a very useful instrument in hypertensive patients´ monitoring and in the screening of adverse effects.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue diseñar y validar un cuestionario para medir los síntomas percibidos asicados a medicamentos antihipertensivos (PERSYVE). Métodos: El desarrollo y validación de PERSYVE incluyó cuatro etapas: 1) desarrollo de ítems (revisión bibliográfica y elaboración del cuestionario); 2) validación de rostro y de contenido; 3) prueba de campo (pre-test); y 4) validación test-retest, evaluación de la consistencia interna (alfa de Chronbach) y reproductibilidad en el tiempo (coeficiente de correlación intra-clases y coeficiente kappa de Cohen). Resultados: De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos de la revisión de la literatura, PERSYVE se divide en seis secciones: (1) adherencia a medicamentos, (2) síntomas percibidos y como afectan a la calidad de vida (escala Likert de cinco puntos), (3) comunicación con los profesionales de la salud, (4) percepción de síntomas como reacciones adversas, (5) influencia en el cumplimiento del tratamiento, y (6) adopción de métodos no farmacológicos para el control de la presión arterial. La validación de rostro y de contenido del cuestionario llevaron a algunos cambios de vocabulario y a la introducción de la sección 2.1. El ensayo de campo (n=26) reveló una alta comprensibilidad de las preguntas. El alfa de Cronbach calculado para la sección 2 (escala de Likert de 5 puntos) fue de 0,850. PERSYVE fue reproducible (n=167): valores de kappa presentaron una reproductibilidad sustancial y, en la sección 2, los valores de ICC resultaron de buenos a excelentes. Conclusión: Los resultados demostraron que PERSYVE es un cuestionario bien estructurado, objetivo, fácil de usar para el paciente, válido y confiable. PERSYVE puede ser un instrumento muy útil en la monitorización de pacientes hipertensos y en el rastreo de efectos adversos.