Farmacéuticos Comunitarios. 2019 Dec 30; 11(4):21-31 DOI: 10.5672/FC.2173-9218.(2019/Vol11).004.03

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

Amador-Fernández N1, 2, Benrimoj SI3, Baixauli Fernández VJ1, Climent Catalá MT1, Colomer Molina V4, Esteban Jiménez O5, Fernández San José B5, García Agudo O4, García Cárdenas V3, García García JI6, Gastelurrutia MA2, Gómez Martínez JC1, Valls Roca F6, Martínez Martínez F2
1. Sociedad Española de Farmacia Familiar y Comunitaria (SEFAC). 2. Grupo de Investigación en Atención Farmacéutica (GIAF-UGR). 3. Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). 4. Muy Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Valencia (MICOF). 5. Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria (SemFyC). 6. Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (Semergen).
Amador-Fernández N, Benrimoj SI, Baixauli VJ, Climent MT, Colomer V, Esteban O, Fernández B, García O, García V, García JI, Gastelurrutia MA, Gómez JC, Valls F, Martínez F. Colaboración farmacéutico-médico en la elaboración de protocolos consensuados para el tratamiento de síntomas menores: programa ‘INDICA+PRO’. Farmacéuticos Comunitarios. 2019 Dec 30; 11 (4): 21-31 DOI: 10.5672/FC.2173-9218.(2019/Vol11).004.03
Abstract : 

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. 

Keywords : 
Minor ailments, clinical protocols, community Pharmacy, pharmaceutical services, primary health care
Article download link: 
fc2019-11-4-03bindica-pro.pdf

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