Waiting room as a health education strategy for chronic diseases: experience report from a pharmacist resident

Abstract

Introduction: Primary Care (PC) is the user's main entry point into the Unified Health System (SUS), concentrating health promotion and disease prevention actions. The role of pharmacists in educational activities, although recent, is essential given the high prevalence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, requiring continuous monitoring and strategies that favor the safe and rational use of medicines. Objective: To report the experience of a resident pharmacist in conducting health education actions carried out in a waiting room with hypertensive and diabetic patients in a Basic Health Unit in the north of Piauí. Methodology: This is an experience report developed at AB, using participatory methodology and the waiting room space as a tool for dialogue and collective construction of knowledge. Results and discussion: The activities featured significant participation from service users, reports of personal experiences and clarification of doubts, highlighting the importance of the pharmacist in providing guidance on the appropriate use of medications and preventing risks related to treatment. Conclusion: The experience demonstrated that the pharmacist can use the “Waiting Room” tool as a health education strategy in primary care in an assertive manner with people with chronic diseases, promoting elements of technical expertise for the population using the service, who are interested and participate in the proposed exchange of knowledge and mutual experiences in health.