Health education to users of prescription drugs from the Pharmacy at the Federal University of Goiás

Abstract

The Rational Use of Medicines was defined by the World Health Organization as a goal to be achieved due to the alarming data related to complications caused by the misuse of drugs. In our country, factors such as self-medication, poor access to health services, poor adherence to drug treatment, and lack of patient education are obstacles to the effective implementation of the Rational Use of Medicines. The reestablishment of the relationship between the pharmacist and the patient in community pharmacies, involving the dispensing of medicines, leaflets, and other pharmaceutical services, is consolidating as a way of implementing the Rational Use of Medicines. Prescription drugs do not have legislation to regulate and standardize leaflets supporting the guidelines given verbally by health professionals to the users. To meet this need, in this extension project, sixteen leaflets were developed for users of the University pharmacy at the Federal University of Goiás. These were produced according to Brazilian regulations, using accessible language and objectives, in order to provide an effective and low cost way of promoting the Rational Use of Medicines.