Evaluation of dental prescriptions in the framework of primary care in a municipality of Seridó Potiguar (Brazil)

Abstract

Prescriptions that do not comply with the legislation may compromise patient safety, showing weaknesses in the quality of the health service. Objective: To evaluate the prescriptions of drugs elaborated by dental surgeons, in the scope of primary care, according to the legislation in force. Method: Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, in the basic health units of the municipality of Caicó, RN, in a total of 23, in the period from July 2017 to December 2018, from the second routes of prescriptions elaborated by dentists during the 2016, filed in the pharmacies of these units. The prescriptions were evaluated according to Law nº. 5.991/1973, Law nº. 9.787/1999 and RDC nº. 20/2011. Results and Discussions: Among the non-compliant items, the absence of age and sex of the user (both 100%), absence of information that allows prescribing contact (98.86%), absence of stamp and signature of the pharmacist attesting dispensation (98,08%) and absence of treatment duration (39.39%). Conclusion: There is a need to include and / or improve contents related to good prescribing practices, considering legal, pharmacological and patient safety aspects, for dentists, as well as the need for awareness among dentists and other professionals health professionals and managers about the development of safe practices during their work processes.