Evaluation of pharmaceutical services rendered for pediatric patients in community pharmacies

Objective: To assess whether pharmaceutical professionals working in Kaunas community pharmacies provides enough information for pediatric patients and their caregivers, that to ensure the safety of selected medicines. Tasks: To find out what kind of medicines are sold in Kaunas community pharmacies regardless of the Summary of Product Characteristics. To determine whether pharmaceutical specialists provide all required information about the safety of the medicine. Figure out the difficulties commonly faced by pharmaceutical professionals choosing medicines for pediatric patients. To learn how the parents of pediatric patients evaluate pharmaceutical services given by pharmaceutical specialist. Methods: The study was carried out using an anonymous questionnaire. Parents of children have been given 27 questions to which 123 respondents agreed to answer. Pharmacy professionals have been given 11 questions to which answer agreed 82 pharmaceutical professionals. Results: The surveyed parents of children admitted that most pharmaceutical specialists before issuing a non-prescription medicine, inquire about the child's ailments (57,7 per cent) inquire of the child's age (87 per cent) inform the consumer about the time and method (78,9 per cent) issue a package leaflet (86,4 per cent). Conclusions: Most of the medicines prescribed for younger children than specified in the leaflet, consists of drugs to treat throat sore, cough and cold. Interviews with parents of children showed that all the required information about the safety of the medicine are not always delivered. The main difficulties encountered by pharmaceutical professionals selecting medicinal preparations is unsuitable drug taste and the lack of pharmaceutical forms for pediatric patients. One third of the respondents there are in full satisfaction of a pharmaceutical service. Guidelines: For Pharmacy professionals. Do not prescribe medicinal products for children younger than specified in the package leaflet of the medicinal product if there is age or indication appropriate medicine. Always notify VVKT about adverse drug reaction. When issuing medicines to find out the patient's medications which he is using at the moment to warn of possible adverse reactions, interactions with other drugs