Collaborative care protocols for the management of minor ailments agreed between pharmacists and medical practitioners: INDICA+PRO Study

Background: To increase the collaboration between community pharmacists and medical practitioners working in primary care it is critical to have collaborative protocols in place. Minor ailments could be a good example where this collaboration would benefit patient care as patients are seeking treatment in both settings. These collaborative protocols would assist in diminishing the variability of treatments in both settings. The aim of the study was to develop care protocols for minor ailments agreed between medical practitioners and pharmacists. 

Methods: Two different methodologies were used to arrive at a consensus for the protocols: literature review and expert group. Some of the clinical protocols were updated from a previous document created in 2008. Expert group was composed of four community pharmacists (SEFAC, MICOF) and four medical practitioners (SemFyC y Semergen). 

Results: Thirty-one protocols for minor ailments were agreed and allocated to five groups (five new minor ailments protocols were added: respiratory tract-related conditions, gastrointestinal disturbance, pain, dermatological problems and others.

Protocols were structured following: definition, more frequent causes, referral criteria (patient’s age, red flags, symptom’s duration, patient’s health problems and treatments and physiological situations), recommendations for management (prevention, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment) and references used. 

Conclusions: Clinical protocols agreed between health professionals of medicine and pharmacy are a tool that contribute to better management of minor ailments in community pharmacy.