Use of medicines by patients of the primary health care of the Brazilian Unified Health System

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To characterize the use of medicines by patients of the primary health care of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).METHODS This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive study, part of 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). Interviews were carried out with patients present in the services by semi-structured questionnaires. Sociodemographic, clinical, and use of medicines variables were assessed and the use of medicines in the 30 days prior to the interview was also verified. The population was stratified into three age groups: 18 to 44, 45 to 64, and 65 years or more. The differences between the age groups were verified using the Student’s t-test for continuous variables and chi-square test for the categorical ones. The complex samples analysis plan was employed. The medicines were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.RESULTS Of the 8,803 patients interviewed, 6,511 (76.2%) reported to have used medicines in the 30 days prior to the interview. On average, each patient used 2.32 medicines, without difference between the sexes. Among medicine users, 18.2% were aged 65 years or more. Compared to the other age groups, older adults presented more comorbidities, used more medicines, and self-reported worse health conditions. They were also less educated, reported worse economic situation, and lived alone. The medicines that were mostly used were “other analgesics and antipyretics” (3rd ATC level) and Losartan (5th ATC level).CONCLUSIONS Most medicine users had lower education level and presented comorbidities. The most used medicines were the antihypertensive ones. Self-medication was higher among young people. Most patients reported to use generic medicines. The average number of medicines and the prevalence of use increased with age. Due to the characteristics observed and the difficulties in the use of medicines, older adults are in a situation of greater vulnerability.

Utilização de anti-hipertensivos e antidiabéticos no Brasil: análise das diferenças socioeconômicas. Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013

“…The implementation of these drug distribution programs and policies aimed at providing the population with greater and more equitable access to such products, such as the Generic Medicines Policy and the PFPB 12,13,24 , strongly contribute to explain the study results, in which inequalities in use were found, but not of such magnitude as inequalities found in other areas of health services [25][26][27][28] .…”

“…and diabetic patients' access to medicines [9][10][11][12][13][14] , however little is known about how socioeconomic disparities manifest themselves in specific subgroups of sex, age group and geographic regions on a national scale.…”

Determinants of the use of physiotherapy services among individuals with Parkinson's disease living in Brazil

“…Thus, the lower education level of the participants may have been a barrier to accessing and using physiotherapy treatment. Studies in developing countries have shown that a low education level may affect the degree of understanding of the prescribed treatment, as well as adherence to 33,34 and satisfaction with the treatment 35 . This result requires a scientific approach to understand the best strategies to maximize access of the low-educated PD patient to physiotherapy services.…”

Abandono ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo em idosos: conhecendo seus condicionantes

“…Hypertensive patients are told about the need for them to use various medications and do not understand why they present so many adverse effects of the medication, since they have been prescribed to improve a problem of health, but that they present others. 22 This fact is very worrying, considering that this public needs to understand that the use of medication becomes a great ally in their day to day due to their need, since it needs to understand the importance of the same, aiming at its benefits and accepting that you are carrying a disease that needs proper treatment.…”