Allergic diseases in the community pharmacy: Alergológica 2014

Introduction: Alergológica 2014 is a project designed to obtain epidemiological, clinical and socioeconomic information on allergic patients. This is the first edition in which community pharmacy pharmacists participate in the study along with allergologists. The purpose was to collect information on possible supportive and counseling programs based on an allergy questionnaire in pharmacies.

Material and methods: A national online-based descriptive survey was carried out among community pharmacies between 17 March and 19 May 2014. 

Results: A total of 415 pharmacists voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Regarding the results obtained, 40% of those surveyed claimed to receive 25-50% of all allergy consultations in spring and autumn - rhinitis / conjunctivitis being the most common problems (43%). Most questions (75%) were referred to symptomatic treatments obtained without a prescription. Over 90% of the pharmacists considered it interesting to implement interventional protocols in allergy, though only 34% claimed to have protocols referred to dispensation and therapeutic indication. In 88-98% of the cases there is no coordination with other health professionals.

Discussion: The information obtained will allow the adoption of protocols, the improvement of knowledge and the provision of quality pharmaceutical care, since it will contribute to improve healthcare among patients and meet their needs. Furthermore, it will facilitate cooperation with allergologists, who will benefit from reliable information on those aspects that concern patients most and which cause them to ask questions when not in the allergology clinic.