Abstract

RAMOS FERNANDEZ, Maritza; ARBESU MICHELENA, Ma. Antonieta; SEDENO ARGILAGOS, Caridad  and  FERNANDEZ MONAGA, Sol A. The pharmacologist as a health educator in patients receiving polychemotherapy. Rev Cubana Farm [online]. 2006, vol.40, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2988.

The treatment of cancer with cytostatic polychemotherapy is very useful in spite of its side effects. The mission of the pharmacologist is to render health services as a drug specialist to garantee their rational use. His incorporation to the oncological chemotherapy team is recognized at the world level; however, this activity is not usual in Cuba. In the present work, a professional pharmacologist joined the multidisciplinary team of the Outpatient Service of Oncological Polychemotherapy of the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology during 6 months, in 2003, aimed at educating the patient in relation to the indicated treatment. 79 patients that received polychemotherapy for the first time were selected and interviewed. The characteristics of the medication they were about to be administered were explained, and a Guide of Practical Advices including the undesirable effects the cytostatics may cause, as well as some recommendations to alleviate them, was given to them. The impact of the intervention was measured in the next visit of the patient to the service. In the survey done to evaluate the Guide of Practical Advices, it was found that 100 % considered that the previously received recommendations were useful, 41.77 % stated the need of information together with the Guide before undergoing therapy, whereas 56.96 % said that the information given in the booklet was enough. The results show the educative usefulness of the pharmacologist and his contribution to improve the quality of life during the time the patients are under this treatment

Keywords : Health and polychemotherapy education; education in cytostatics; oncological chemotherapy and health education.