Demanda de medicamentos sin receta: evaluación de la intervención farmacéutica / Demand for drugs without prescription: Evaluation of pharmaceutical intervention

Introducción: La modificación de los usos y actitudes de los demandantes de dispensación de medicamentos que precisan receta médica sin presentarla, es un campo donde el farmacéutico comunitario, desde su responsabilidad profesional, puede contribuir a obtener importantes resultados en la consecución de su uso correcto.Objetivo: Evaluar el resultado de la intervención del farmacéutico en la demanda de medicamentos (ibuprofeno y paracetamol) sin presentar receta médica en presentaciones que la requieren. Método: Diseño: estudio experimental transversal aleatorizado con intervención farmacéutica mediante educación sanitaria.Emplazamiento: nueve farmacias de Pontevedra y Ourense. Octubre-noviembre de 2019.Participantes: usuarios de la farmacia que solicitaban sin receta presentaciones de paracetamol o ibuprofeno que la requerían.Mediciones principales: número de solicitudes, problemas de salud y motivos, aceptación o no de una alternativa de medicamento sinreceta (MSR).Resultados:Se registraron 424 peticiones, 303 (71,5%) aceptaron la dispensación del MSR. Ibuprofeno 600 mg fue el principio activo más solicitado (73,3%) y la automedicación el principal motivo de petición sin receta (89,9%). Entre los problemas de salud referidos destacó el dolor de cabeza (22,9%). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el resultado de la intervención y el medicamento solicitado, el sexo, el motivo, ni el problema de salud que originó la solicitud. Sí entre edad de los pacientes, medicamento solicitado y resultado de la intervención. 30 (14,2%) pacientes fueron derivados al médico.Conclusiones:La actuación del farmacéutico en el cambio a un medicamento sin receta logró una alta aceptación por los pacientes, lo que contribuye a su uso adecuado.(AU)

Introduction: The change in the usage and the attitudes of the petitioners who ask for the dispensing of medications that require a medical prescription without deliver it, is a field in which the community pharmacist, from his or her professional responsibility, can contribute to obtain important outcomes in the achievement of their correct usage.Objective:This study pursues to evaluate the result of the pharmacist intervention on the demand for drugs (ibuprofen and paracetamol) without delivering a medical prescription in cases in which it is needed. Method: Design: It was carried out an experimental, cross-sectional and randomized study with pharmaceutical intervention through health education.Location: nine pharmacies from Pontevedra and Ourense. October –November 2019.Participants: pharmacy users that ask for paracetamol or ibuprofeno without having a medical prescription although it was needed. Main measurements: number of requests, health problems and causes, acceptance or not of an alternative, an over the counter (OTC) drug. Results: 424 requests were registered, 303 (71.5%) accepted the OTC dispensation. Ibuprofeno 600 mg was the most requested active ingredient (73.3%) and self-medication the main cause of request without a prescription (89.9%). Among the health problems referred, headache stood out (22.9%). There were not found significant differences between the outcome of the intervention and the requested medication, the sex, the reason, or the health problem that was the origin of the request. On the other hand, important differences were found in the age of the patients, the requested medication and the result of the intervention. 30 (14.2%) patients were referred to the doctor. Conclusions: The intervention of the pharmacist in the change to an over the counter drug achieved a high acceptance from the patients, which contributes to their correct usage.(AU)

Percepción de los usuarios de la farmacia comunitaria sobre la COVID-19 / Community pharmacy users' perception of COVID-19

OBJETIVOS: evaluar la percepción de los usuarios de las farmacias sobre la repercusión de la pandemia COVID-19 en su salud, el conocimiento sobre su posible inclusión en grupos de riesgo y su actitud ante una posible vacuna. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio observacional transversal aleatorizado, en farmacias de Pontevedra y Ourense, desde marzo a junio de 2020 al comienzo y después de la restricción de movimientos. Sujetos: usuarios ≥ 18 años que acuden a las farmacias participantes en demanda de medicamentos y/o material de higiene y protección. Procedimiento: el usuario cumplimentaba un cuestionario anónimo, depositándolo hasta la noche en una bandeja de plástico desinfectada diariamente. El procedimiento se repetirá tras cesar el confinamiento. Resultados de la primera fase: se realizaron 706 encuestas. 415 (58,8 %) mujeres, edad media 48,9 (DE=16,9) años. 100 participantes (14,2 %) viven solos.637 (90,2 %) creen que la COVID-19 es más peligrosa que la gripe, 189 (26,8 %) desconocen estar en algún grupo de riesgo. 107 (15,1 %) dicen sentirse mal o muy mal con el aislamiento. Los aspectos más afectados son: familiar 350 (49,6 %) y emocional 338 (47,9 %). En 2019/20 se vacunaron de la gripe 172 (24,4 %) y en 2020/21 piensan vacunarse 243 (34,4 %). 448 (63,5 %) se vacunarán frente a la COVID-19 cuando exista vacuna, esté o no financiada por el Sistema Nacional de Salud, 183 (25,9 %) se lo pensarán. CONCLUSIONES: los encuestados consideran la COVID-19 más peligrosa que la gripe estacional. En esta primera fase la afectación sobre bienestar y salud no parece elevada. Un alto porcentaje se vacunará frente a la COVID-19

AIMS: to assess the pharmacy users' perception on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their health, the knowledge of their possible inclusion in risk groups and their attitude towards a potential vaccine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized, cross-sectional, observational study in pharmacies of Pontevedra and Ourense, from March to June 2020 at the beginning and after movement restrictions. Subjects: users ≥ 18 years old who go to the participating pharmacies to purchase medicines and/or hygiene and protection material. Procedure: the user completed an anonymous questionnaire, which was then placed until night in a plastic tray that was disinfected daily. The procedure will be repeated after the confinement has been terminated. Results of the first phase: 706 surveys were conducted. 415 (58.8%) women, aged 48.9 9 years on average (SD=16.9). 100 participants (14.2%) live alone. 637 (90.2%) believe that COVID-19 is more dangerous than influenza, 189 (26.8%) don't know if they belong to any risk group. 107 (15.1%) say they feel bad or very bad about isolation. The most affected aspects are: familiar 350 (49.6%) and emotional 338 (47.9%). In 2019/20, 172 (24.4%) were vaccinated against influenza and in 2020/21 243 (34.4%) are planning to get vaccinated. 448 (63.5%) will be vaccinated against COVID-19 when the vaccine is available, whether or not it is financed by the National Health System, and 183 (25.9%) will think about it. CONCLUSIONS: respondents consider COVID-19 more dangerous than seasonal influenza. In this first phase, the impact on well-being and health does not seem to be high. A high percentage of people will be vaccinated against COVID-19

Incorporation of PVMMA to PLGA MS enhances lectin grafting and their in vitro activity in macrophages.

Attachment of lectins, especially those that are recognized and bounded by macrophages and other antigen presenting cells onto biodegradable microspheres surface, may serve as support for a wide variety of applications. The aim of this work was: (1) to prepare microspheres (MS) based on two biodegradable copolymers, poly (lactide-co-glicolide) acid (PLGA) and poly[(methyl vinyl ether)-co-(maleic anhydride)] (PVMMA) with their surface functionalized with Concanavalin A (Con A) and, (2) to evaluate their behaviour in macrophage culture. The incorporation of PVMMA was studied in order to augment the lectin coupling efficiency. MS were obtained by spray-drying and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was loaded as protein model. Particles were characterized for size, morphology, surface charge, entrapment efficiency, FTIR, in vitro protein release and conjugation efficiency. Finally, functionalized MS were tested in vitro with raw 264.7 murine macrophages (Mф) in terms of cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, and oxygen consumption. Conjugated Con A microspheres showed increased grafting efficiency up to four times compared to PLGA alone. The retention of Con A after coupling was confirmed by desorption studies. The attachment of Con A to microspheres induced oxygen consumption, increased phagocytosis efficiency and even NO production by macrophages. The results suggest that Con A and possibly, other lectins, grafted onto PLGA-PVMMA microspheres may serve as potential adjuvants by modulating protein delivery and macrophage activation.