%0 Journal Article
%T Assessment of community pharmacistsĄŻ counselling skills on headache management by using the simulated patient approach: a pilot study
%A Santos AP
%A Mesquita AR
%A Oliveira KS
%A Lyra DP Jr
%J Pharmacy Practice (Granada)
%D 2013
%I Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
%X Background: Headache, or cephalalgia, is one of the 20 most disabling diseases in the world and affects a large portion of the worldĄŻs population. People generally use over-the-counter medications to treat headaches and other minor symptoms. A pharmacist should help patients choose the most effective, safe, and convenient pharmacotherapeutic option. Objective: To assess the counselling skills of community pharmacists for headache management by using the simulated patient approach. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2010 to July 2010. Data were obtained from a convenience sample consisting of one pharmacist from each of the 24 participating community pharmacies. In order to evaluate the pharmacistsĄŻ counselling skills, a simulated patient role played a standardized headache case requesting self-medication. The interactions of the simulated patient with the pharmacists were audiovisually recorded using a hidden micro camera, and these recordings were analysed using a validated questionnaire. Results: Of the 24 evaluated pharmacists, 19 (79.1%) were women. Information was spontaneously provided by 15 (62.5%) pharmacists. At least one question was asked by the pharmacist to assess the signs and symptoms. Most pharmacists (n=17, 70.8%) recommended sodium dipyrone, either alone or in combination with other drugs. The most discussed items in the simulation visits were contraindications (n=17, 70.8%), indications (n=10, 41.6%), and drug administration times (n=8, 33.3%). None of the pharmacists recommended any non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives. The overall impressions of the pharmacistsĄŻ professional counselling skills ranged from poor to fair. Conclusion: This study showed that the pharmacistsĄŻ counselling skills and the guidance provided by the pharmacists to the simulated patient were insufficient for the satisfactory management of headache.
%K Headache
%K Community Pharmacy Services
%K Professional Practice
%K Pharmacists
%K Patient Simulation
%K Brazil
%U http://www.pharmacypractice.org/journal/index.php/pp/article/view/173