Prescrições de medicamentos em unidade de cuidadospaliativos de um hospital universitário de Porto Alegre

Abstract

Introduction: In less than 40 years, Brazil changed from a mortality profile typical of a young population to one characterized by complex and more costly diseases, typical of older ages. The control of the symptoms of patients in palliative care can improve the quality of life of these individuals and even of their families. The use of appropriate drugs for the treatment of these patients is critical to therapeutic success, which in this case is adequate control of symptoms. The main objective of this study was to describe drug use profile in patients under palliative care admitted to Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Methods: The present descriptive, exploratory study aimed to determine the profile of a sample of 30 patients admitted to the palliate care unit of HCPA focusing on drug use and also on patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes. Results: The prescriptions included a total of 76 different drugs, most commonly prescribed of which were morphine, dipyrone, lactulose, heparin, metoclopramide, acetaminophen, sodium chloride, ondansetron, ipratropium, dexamethasone and omeprazole. With the possibility of accumulation of chronic pathologies, polypharmacy is inevitable. The evaluation of drug use becomes very important to ensure patient safety in palliative care and the rational use of drugs. Conclusions: The methodological construction of this study made it possible to describe profile of the population of interest and provided knowledge about the drugs used in the palliative care unit and about demographic and clinical variables of patients admitted to this unit. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]