OBJECTIVE To evaluate patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in Brazilian primary health care.METHODS This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study on a representative sample from the five Brazilian geopolitical regions resulting from the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos – Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines – Services, 2015). The outcome was the patient’s satisfaction, obtained using the item response theory. Associations were tested using Pearson’s Chi-square test with sociodemographic and health variables, and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to verify the adequacy of the final model. Logistic regression results were presented as odds ratio.RESULTS The overall percentage of patients satisfied with these services was 58.4% (95%CI 54.4-62.3). The “opportunity/convenience” aspect had the lowest satisfaction percentage (49.5%; 95%CI 46.4-52.6) and “interpersonal aspects,” the highest percentage (90.5%; 95%CI 88.9-91.8), significantly higher than other aspects. Sex, age group, limitations due to disease, and self-perception of health remained associated in the final multiple logistic model regarding general satisfaction.CONCLUSIONS Most of the interviewed users were satisfied with pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities, and the satisfaction with the customer’s service was determinant in the patient’s overall satisfaction.

This paper describes the development process of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines) based on an integrated approach to pharmaceutical services, science, technology and innovation. It starts by contextualizing health and development in Brazil and features elements of the National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health in Brazil and the National Policy for Pharmaceutical Services. On presenting pharmaceutical policy guidelines, it stresses the lack of nationwide data. This survey, commissioned by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, has two components: household survey and evaluation of pharmaceutical services in primary care. The findings point to perspectives that represent, besides the enhancement of public policy for pharmaceutical services and public health, results of government action aimed at developing the economic and industrial health care complex to improve the health conditions of the Brazilian population.

This study is a synthesis of the main results of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), Evaluation Component of the Basic Pharmaceutical Services. Based on the critical narrative of the elements of Brazil’s pharmaceutical policies, we discuss aspects related to the structure of the pharmaceutical services, the medicines’ sanitary state, human resources, access to medicines, rational use and management. Despite the advances that reflect the commitment of the group of actors involved, the results of the Survey indicate challenges, such as equitable access to medicines, the structuring of pharmaceutical services, the improvement of logistics and administration, and the implementation of actions directed to pharmaceutical care in the health units.

No abstract

A produção científica em saúde aumentou de forma vertiginosa nas últimas décadas, não sendo diferente nas áreas de avaliações de tecnologias em saúde, farmacoeconomia e assistência farmacêutica. O número de grupos de pesquisa atuantes nessas áreas de conhecimento é um indicador desse avanço.  É nesse contexto que nasce o Jornal de Assistência Farmacêutica e Farmacoeconomia (JAFF): uma nova revista que objetiva articular a práxis, a ciência e a política de forma transdisciplinar, peculiar a nosso tempo, destinada a professores, pesquisadores e estudantes de Farmácia e de outras Ciências da Saúde, profissionais de saúde e gestores de serviços e sistemas de saúde.