Abstract

Background: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract most often diagnosed in adolescence. Among children with IBD, 4% present before age 5 years and 18% before age 10 years, with the peak onset in adolescence. While this disease requires long-term medication usage to maintain remission, nonadherence is common and is adversely associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Our purpose was to carry out a pharmacotherapy follow-up to pediatric outpatients with IBD. Methods: A structured process with monthly interviews to patients and caregivers was applied. Data of medical conditions, laboratory tests and its pharmacotherapy were recorded and assessed to identify drug related problems. Adherences tests and a scale to measure the activity of the disease were applied. Appropriate interventions were proposed to patients, caregivers and health team. Finally, satisfaction with this service was evaluated. Results: Twelve patients, of twenty, accepted the follow-up, attending, at least, three interviews; eight of them were males and eleven were adolescents. All patients had ulcerative colitis and used mesalamine as basic therapy. According to the activity scale, all were on remission of the IBD. Twenty-two drug related problems were identified, fourteen were about nonadherence. Thirty-five interventions were addressed, 19 directed to patients and caregivers and the remaining to the health team. Twenty problems were resolved and caregivers punctuated the quality of the pharmacist consultation as "good" and "very good", which reflects compliance with the care received. Conclusion: The pharmacotherapy follow-up was useful to resolve most of the drug related problems identified in pediatric outpatients with IBD. Additionally, a continued pharmaceutical care over time is recommended, focused on the adherence to pharmacological treatment and other health problems that may be manifested, either referred by the patient or caregiver, or investigated through laboratory exams.