The pharmacist's role on transgender care: findings from a literature review

Abstract Transgender is a broad-spectrum term referring to people who do not match their assigned sex at birth. Several issues, including social detachment, poor access to healthcare services, and the lack of social/economic opportunities, have historically affected this population. In this scenario, pharmacists - not mentioned in national and international clinical guidelines/protocols regarding transgender care - might be key professionals to serve and care for this population. The main goal of this literature review was to identify the pharmacists' role in the care of transgender people. The articles were retrieved from scientific databases. After applying filters (e.g., language, full-text availability, and coverage of the research question), seven articles were included in this review. The articles did not present pharmaceutical experiences or practices regarding transgender healthcare. Instead, some articles stressed the inadequate or inappropriate use of hormones and their side effects, also covering the role of this issue in professional development, gaps, and potential opportunities for research and pharmaceutical services. Pharmacists, included in a multi-professional team, could be a key element to promote access to healthcare and the well-being of the transgender population.

Efeito de um programa de acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico em pacientes com hipertensão arterial sistêmica / Effect of a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program in patients with systemic arterial hypertension

A Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS) é uma condição clínica multifatorial, com tratamento não-farmacológico e/ou farmacológico, que necessita de acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico para gestão da condição de saúde. O objetivo foi avaliar o impacto de um programa de acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico em pacientes com HAS, através do estudo quase-experimental, longitudinal e prospectivo. Foram avaliados 28 pacientes, 50% estavam com pressão arterial descompensada, os PRM (Problemas Relacionados à Medicamentos) identificados foram interações medicamentosas (57,1%), duplicidade farmacoterapêutica (28,8%), medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados para idosos (38,5 %) e não adesão ao tratamento (89,3%). Dos RNM (Resultado Negativos associados à Medicação) 56,2% relacionavam-se à segurança e 37,5% à efetividade. Após o acompanhamento, 56,3% dos RNM foram resolvidos, 57,1% dos pacientes aderiram ao tratamento e houve redução da Pressão Arterial Sistólica (p=0,010) e Pressão Arterial Diastólica (p=0,020). O programa mostrou-se favorável na redução da pressão arterial sistêmica e resolução dos PRM e RNM.

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a multifactorial clinical condition with non-pharmacological and/or pharmacological treatment that requires pharmacotherapeutic monitoring in order to manage the health condition. The objective was to evaluate the impact of a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program of patients with SAH through a quasi-experimental, longitudinal, and prospective study. Twenty-eight patients were evaluated, 50% of which had decompensated blood pressure; the DRPs identified were drug interactions (57.1%), pharmacotherapeutic duplication (28.8%), potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults (38.5%), and non-adherence to treatment (89.3%). Of the NOM identified (Negative Outcomes associated with Medication), 56.2% were related to safety, and 37.5% to effectiveness. After the follow-up, 56.3% of the NOM were resolved, 57.1% of patients adhered to treatment, and there was a reduction in the Systolic Blood Pressure (p = 0.010) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (p = 0.020). The program proved to be efficient in reducing systemic blood pressure and resolving DRPs and NOM.

Pharmaceutical intervention assessment in the identification and management of drug interactions in an intensive care unit.

It is estimated there are thousands of combinations of drugs, which may generate various adverse drug events, including drug interactions (DI). To assess the contribution of pharmacist to identification and management of DI in an intensive care unit (ICU). A longitudinal study was conducted in the ICU of a private hospital in the city of Aracaju-SE, between 2008 and 2009. The prevalence and clinical relevance of DI was assessed by two clinical pharmacists. Demographic data and clinical information of patients hospitalized in the period of the study were obtained from medical records. At the end of the study 137 medical records were analyzed, with a predominance of female patients (55.4%), average age of 66 (±7.0) years. 6,085 prescriptions were collected during the study period, in which 2,455 drugs prescribed. Of these, 175 prescriptions contained clinically relevant DI, 178 of moderate severity and 35 of major severity, 213 DI in total. The clinical pharmacists prepared reports for the physicians, which enabled the reduction of 40% of all DI. Data from this study suggest that pharmacist’s contribution may have reduced the incidence of DI, providing more familiarity of physicians on clinically relevant information and improving the quality of prescriptions in the ICU.