PHARMACEUTICAL CARE IN THE EDUCATION OF PATIENTS USING MEDICAL DEVICES

Abstract

The practice of incorrect techniques regarding “assistive technologies” can lead to severe complications for the patient, such as severe under or overdose events (related, respectively, to possible lack of eff ectiveness or response exacerbation). At the time of dispensing such products, the pharmacist can contribute to the improvement of patient experience and Health Education. The objective of this study is to analyze the current scenario of the use of medical devices by the patients themselves, focusing on the implications of their incorrect performance, and to highlight the pharmacist’s opportunity to teach correct use techniques. Considering the expressiveness of the diseases to which they are associated, the following  devices were chosen: insulin injection pens, dry powder inhalation devices, and medication nebulization devices; and colostomy irrigation systems. A narrative bibliographic review of the last 20 years of articles published in English, Portuguese and Spanish, consulted in SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct databases, as well as magazines/newspapers, websites from national and international institutions, was performed respecting the limit of approximately 2-4 publications per theme. The selected articles demonstrated the implications of the misuse of these devices and discussed the impact of interventions carried out by health care professionals, especially pharmacists, in the education of users of such products, with the improvement of life quality. It was possible to understand the importance of Health Education and to verify the opportunity of the pharmacist in establishing educational plans in this scenario.