ADHERENCE TO PHARMACOTHERAPY: DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHIC TOOLS THAT HELP RATIONALLY USE THE TOPICAL TACROLIMUS

Abstract

The most important component for effective control of many diseases, especially chronic ones, is adherence to pharmacotherapy. During the  pharmaceutical service performed at the University Pharmacy (UP) of the 
Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, it was  possible to observe the precipitate return of users of the tacrolimus drug in the pharmaceutical form of an ointment, constituting a failure in the correct use of that and the probable process of adherence to pharmacotherapy. Thus, the objective of the work was to develop illustrative graphic tools specially created for the use of tacrolimus by patients treated at the UP to optimize the use and consequent adherence to pharmacotherapy. A bibliographic survey about the drug supported the creation of the graphic tools. In pharmaceutical care at the UP, the difficulties faced by patients regarding medicine use can be noticed. As a result, the development of graphic materials, folders, and posters based on the demands presented were efficient in complementing the communication that already exists in pharmaceutical care, contributing as an additional means for health literacy and for the rational use of the medication, with consequent improvement in treatment adherence.