Teaching and Learning Pharmacy Services: A Teaching Method for Developing Competencies for Patient-Centered Care Through Experiential Learning in a Real Workplace.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the transformation process that has been occurring in pharmacy education and the urgent need to address social health needs, proposals of teaching methods for the development of competences and skills in patient-centered care have become an issue worth discussing. The study describes and discusses the method that has been used for developing of these competencies through experiential learning in a university pharmacy in Brazil. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY: The Teaching and Learning of Pharmacy Services (TLPS) method encompasses 2 components: theoretical-reflexive one (developing protocols covering the patient care process) and practical-reflexive one (using the protocols with real patients). TLPS connects the 2 components in a way to enable students to acquire and apply theoretical knowledge for a comprehensive assessment of the patients' needs and understand how clinical reasoning and decision-making take place. The assessment process is performed, by the supervisor, which evaluates the behaviors necessary for good professional performance. DISCUSSION: The active learning methodologies have been effectively used in the classroom as a way to stimulate critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning. However, experiential learning is considered a central point in the learning process and essential for knowledge building. Thus, the method herein described is shown as an innovative tool to promote self-learning, consolidation and interrelation of the acquired knowledge, easier identification of patients' needs, normalization of behaviors, and improvement in the quality of care.

Perceptions of Individuals with Parkinson's Disease about Quality of Life / Percepciones de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson sobre la calidad de vida / Percepções de pacientes com doença de Parkinson sobre a qualidade de vida

Abstract Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder manifested by motor and non-motor symptoms that compromise patients' quality of life. The instrument used to assess Parkinson's disease patients' quality of life is the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). This study aims to identify issues related to quality of life from the patients' perspective, compare the results obtained with the aspects included in the PDQ-39, and describe some strategies that patients have adopted to overcome difficulties. Materials and methods: This is a qualitative and descriptive study based on a focus group consisting of six patients. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: Aspects related to all PDQ-39 domains were mentioned by the patients, highlighting those related to limitations on their mobility and daily activities, as well as aspects related to their emotional wellbeing. The patients did not mention some aspects of mobility that are included in the PDQ-39, but limitations in the domain of emotional wellbeing that are included in the PDQ-39 were detected. In order to overcome difficulties, patients devise various strategies that require social support. Conclusion: Understanding and reflecting on Parkinson's disease patients' perceptions of their quality of life contributes to our understanding of the disease and stimulates proposals for adequate clinical interventions to provide comprehensive care. It is suggested that the PDQ-39 be reviewed and adapted to the current context, taking into account the most recent knowledge and technological advances related to Parkinson's disease.

Resumen Introducción: la enfermedad de Parkinson es una patología neurodegenerativa, que se manifiesta por signos y síntomas motores y no motores, que comprometen la calidad de vida de los pacientes. El Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) es el instrumento más utilizado para evaluar la calidad de vida en pacientes con esta enfermedad. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron identificar los aspectos relacionados con la Calidad de Vida desde la perspectiva de los pacientes, compararlos con los aspectos considerados por el PDQ-39 y describir las estrategias adoptadas por los pacientes para superar las dificultades. Materiales y métodos: estudio cualitativo, descriptivo. Se realizó un grupo focal con seis pacientes. Los datos fueron analizados usando el método de análisis de contenido. Resultados: aspectos relacionados a todos los dominios del PDQ-39 fueron mencionados por los pacientes, destacándose aquellos relacionados con las limitaciones de la movilidad y el desarrollo de actividades diarias, y aspectos relacionados con el bienestar emocional. No obstante, algunos aspectos considerados en el dominio movilidad del PDQ-39 no fueron mencionados, y fueron detectadas limitaciones del dominio bienestar emocional. Los pacientes diseñan diversas estrategias para superar las dificultades, en las que el soporte social es importante. Conclusión: conocer y reflexionar sobre las percepciones de persona con enfermedad de Parkinson sobre su calidad de vida contribuye para la comprensión de la enfermedad y auxilia la propuesta de intervenciones clínicas adecuadas para lograr el cuidado integral. Se sugiere la revisión y adaptación del PDQ-39 al contexto actual, los avances tecnológicos y de conocimientos sobre la enfermedad de Parkinson.

Resumo Introdução: a doença de Parkinson é uma patologia neurodegenerativa, que se manifesta por signos e sintomas motores e não motores, que comprometem a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. O Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) é o instrumento mais utilizado para avaliar a qualidade de vida de em pacientes com esta doença. Os objetivos do trabalho foram identificar os aspetos relacionados com a Qualidade de Vida desde a perspectiva dos pacientes, compará-los com os aspetos considerados pelo PDQ-39 e descrever as estratégias adotadas pelos pacientes para superar as dificuldades. Materiais e métodos: estudo qualitativo, descritivo. Realizou-se um grupo focal com seis pacientes. Os dados foram analisados usando o método de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: aspetos relacionados a todos os domínios do PDQ-39 foram mencionados pelos pacientes, destacando-se aqueles relacionados com as limitações da mobilidade e o desenvolvimento de atividades diárias, e aspetos relacionados com o bem-estar emocional. No entanto, alguns aspectos considerados no domínio mobilidade do PDQ-39 não foram mencionados, e foram detectadas limitações do domínio bem-estar emocional. Os pacientes desenham diversas estratégias para superar as dificuldades, nas que o suporte social é importante. Conclusão: conhecer e reflexionar sobre as percepções de pessoas com Doença de Parkinson sobre sua qualidade de vida contribui para a compreensão da doença e auxilia a proposta de intervenções clínicas adequadas para conseguir o cuidado integral. Sugere-se a revisão e adaptação do PDQ-39 ao contexto atual, os avanços tecnológicos e de conhecimentos sobre a Doença de Parkinson.

[Access to high-cost drugs in Brazil from the perspective of physicians, pharmacists and patients]. / Acceso a medicamentos de alto precio en Brasil: la perspectiva de médicos, farmacéuticos y usuarios.

OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions on access to medication supplied by the Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Assistance (CEAF) within the Brazilian Unified Health System (which includes high-cost drugs) by the actors involved in the healthcare services of this component. METHOD: A descriptive, qualitative study was carried out by using a focal group with 7 users and 11 semi-structured interviews with health professionals (physicians and pharmacist) in the state of Santa Catarina. RESULTS: According to the participants, access to medicines had improved. Two main perceptions of the CEAF Clinical Guidelines were identified: the requirements constitute a bureaucracy that limits access, and the requisites increase the demand for tests and specialized healthcare services, exceeding the capacity of the healthcare services network. These assumptions generated the search for other means of access that revealed a lack of information and understanding of the right to health among the users. In addition, according to the participants, because of the difficulties of accessing services as a whole, full access to CEAF medicines is a goal that remains to be achieved. CONCLUSION: Although access to CEAF medicines has improved, there are still some difficulties in guaranteeing treatment access and comprehensiveness.

An Estimate of the Cost of Hepatitis C Treatment for the Brazilian Health System.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C therapy in Brazil is expensive due to the cost of antiviral drugs and demands on medical resources. The objective of this study was to estimate the direct costs per patient of chronic hepatitis C therapy in a Brazilian setting. METHOD: A microcosting study from a public health system perspective. The costs included were those of antiviral drugs, secondary medicines, diagnostic tests, visits to physicians and other professionals, hospitalization, nurse, and pharmaceutical care. All costs were priced in 2010. The values were converted to US $ (2010). RESULTS: The total direct cost of hepatitis C treatment per patient with interferon alpha (IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) was US $982.25, with peginterferon alpha (PEG) 2a 180 µg plus RBV was US $10,658.08, and with PEG 2b 120 µg plus RBV was US $12,597.63, taking into account entire treatment according to Brazilian guidelines and assuming that all patients completed full treatment. The antiviral drugs are the most expensive element of the cost of treatment, totaling more than 40% of the medical costs of IFN plus RBV therapy and more than 88% of PEG plus RBV therapy. Calculating an average of 10,000 treatments per year, the total direct cost is US $90,346,772.39. According to the Ministry of Health, 90% of the annual total cost of hepatitis C treatment is accounted for by antiviral drugs. CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, antiviral drugs are the most expensive component of hepatitis C treatment. The cost of follow-up and support to patients is minimal compared with the cost of antiviral drugs.

Nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase may participate in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the cucurbitacins fraction from Wilbrandia ebracteata.

Wilbrandia ebracteata is a medicinal plant from South America used in folk medicine for the treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases. We have shown that the high performance liquid chromatography-characterized (HPLC) dichloromethane fraction isolated from Wilbrandia ebracteata (WEDC) inhibits the parameters observed in experimental models of inflammation in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we extend our previous observations on the analgesic effects of WEDC by investigating its actions using the hot plate test and zymosan-induced writhing test in mice, as well as zymosan-induced arthritis in rats evaluating articular inflammatory pain, cell migration and determination of NO release into the joint exudate. The effect of WEDC on the activity of COX-1 and COX-2 in vitro and its ulcerogenic capacity in vivo were also investigated. The oral treatment of the animals with WEDC (1-10 mg/kg) produced a significant, dose-dependent reduction of articular incapacitation and abdominal contortions in the writhing test. The same effect was not observed in the hot plate and rota-rod tests. WEDC also reduced nitrite release into the zymosan-inflamed joints. In the evaluation of COX activity, we observed that WEDC was able to selectively inhibit COX-2 but not COX-1 activity in COS-7 cells. Moreover, WEDC treatment did not show gastrointestinal toxicity. Our data confirm the anti-nociceptive activities of the WEDC and indicate that this effect could be associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nitric oxide release. The effects could be attributed to cucurbitacins since several of these were isolated from the WEDC.