THE ROLE OF PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE IN TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Primary care is fundamental for the identification, treatment, and monitoring of TB patients. This study aimed to analyze the pharmaceutical assistance in the clinical follow-up of patients at primary healthcare units. An integrative literature review was conducted, using databases such as SciELO, Lilacs, and MEDLINE, with the descriptors: "tuberculosis," "pharmaceutical assistance," "non-adherence to medication," "primary health care," and "SUS," covering articles published between 2020 and 2024, available for free in Portuguese and English. The results showed that pharmaceutical assistance is crucial for the successful treatment of tuberculosis, providing guidance on the correct use of medications and monitoring adverse effects. It was found that adequate infrastructure and the development of qualified work processes in primary healthcare units are fundamental for effective care. Additionally, pharmaceutical care strategies such as supervised dispensing of medications and the use of reminder technologies were highlighted as improving treatment adherence. It concludes that understanding the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals and patients is essential to develop strategies that overcome barriers and reduce treatment abandonment rates, thereby contributing to more effective control of tuberculosis.