Avaliação do armazenamento de medicamentos e promoção de orientações farmacêuticas em residências no Município de Santa Cruz/RN.

Abstract

Home pharmacy corresponds to the storage of medicines in the residences and a large part of the Brazilian population owns it, in order to facilitate access to pharmacological therapy. However, this practice can lead to public health problems, since improper packaging causes changes in medications, a lack of knowledge about disposal causes a number of consequences to the environment and the accumulation of drugs at home increases the risk of intoxication, that the health of the population is vulnerable. With this, the objective of the study was to collect data on the storage of medicines in the residences and to promote guidelines aimed at optimizing pharmacotherapy, maintaining drug efficacy and safety of users. The present research was carried out by accompanying Community Health Agents (ACS) of the Basic Health Unit (UBS) of the city of Santa Cruz/RN, in their residential visits, to identify the profile of the population that the ACS attend. The research was submitted and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Campina Grande, having as opinion number 2.794.949. The data collected through the questionnaires presented a sample of 150 residences. In this study it is found that the majority are of the female gender 69.33%, over the age group 53% are between 18 and 39 years old, in 33.33% of the residences had three residents, income 1 to 3 wages represented 45, 33% reported on schooling 40% said they had a high school education, most of them live close to the health center, 54.67% reported that they buy their drugs in drugstores/pharmacies. When asked about the place of storage, 45.33% keep it in kitchen cabinets, 26.66% is within the reach of children, 24.66% discard the package insert, because they report that it is not important, 86% answered that the doctor 13.33% do not follow what is prescribed and they abandon treatment when they feel better, 22% do not observe the expiration date, as a consequence of this, 15.33% had expired drugs. About discarding 76.66% reported discarding in common trash and 80.66% stated that they never received information about storage and disposal of medications. Therefore, from these results, significant points were highlighted, such as the lack of information that can bring harm to individuals and the environment, with this, we can observe the pharmacist's role as a promoter and educator in health and the relevance of studies such as this in promoting rational use of medicines, which has positive impacts on the environment and the quality of life of the population.