Santos-Pinto CB, Osorio-De-Castro CS, Ferreira LM, Miranda ES. The role of primary care pharmacists in the response to the Zika epidemic.
Pharm Pract (Granada) 2021;
19:2290. [PMID:
34221195 PMCID:
PMC8234616 DOI:
10.18549/pharmpract.2021.2.2290]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection emerged in Brazil in 2015, leading to the
declaration of a national public health emergency, mainly due to its
consequences for pregnant women and newborn babies. The Zika epidemic
demanded major efforts from the public health system to address the full
range of disease consequences.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Primary Health
Care pharmacists working in the city of Campo Grande in the State of Mato
Grosso do Sul.
Methods:
A qualitative cross-sectional interview-based study with pharmacists working
in municipal Primary Health Care services was carried out to investigate
knowledge about the disease and involvement in the response to the health
emergency. Informed consent was obtained. After coding, the corpus underwent
thematic analysis.
Results:
The data show that few professionals had received specific training in public
health. Knowledge largely encompassed disease transmission by the mosquito
and collective and individual preventive measures. Findings highlight
knowledge gaps relating to signs and symptoms, diagnosis, consequences of
infection, and the role of epidemiological surveillance. Most professionals
mentioned at least one of the recommendations on the use of medicines in
symptom management protocols. The practical implications surrounding
knowledge gaps and misconceptions were reflected in pharmacists´ role
in response, restricted to counselling on preventive measures. Few
respondents participated in institutional groups and committees or in
multiprofessional teams involving case management.
Conclusions:
The study identified important knowledge gaps and showed that the involvement
of pharmacy professionals in the response to the Zika epidemic was timid or
inadequate. The results also suggest that pharmacists failed to recognize
their role in interventions related to the ZIKV epidemic. Findings highlight
the need to increase the involvement of primary care pharmacists in
community-based actions, for communication and reduction of health risks,
and emergency preparedness and response.
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