[The pharmacy: a health resource]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Global Health

Background:

• Pharmacies are crucial health access points in Central America.
• Understanding pharmacy practices is vital for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacy personnel and users in Guatemala regarding diarrheal disease treatment.
• To identify gaps in the management of diarrheal diseases, particularly concerning hydration.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of personnel from seven pharmacies in marginal-urban Guatemala.
• Study of interactions with 3,277 users concerning general diseases, with a focus on diarrheal disease.

Main Results:

• Pharmacy personnel manage diarrheal disease empirically, prioritizing symptom treatment over dehydration prevention.
• Significant knowledge and practice deficiencies exist regarding medication use and misuse among personnel and users.
• Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) are rarely used; prepared oral serum is used minimally due to unmet user expectations for anti-diarrheal effects.

Conclusions:

• Current pharmacy practices in Guatemala are inadequate for effective diarrheal disease management, particularly regarding hydration.
• There is a critical need for education on appropriate diarrheal disease treatment, emphasizing rehydration and proper medication use.
• Interventions should address user expectations and promote the use of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS).