Background - this study investigated the practice of the lay prescription of medications for the pharmacies, the percentage of indication of medical consultation and the presence of the pharmacist in the establishment.
Methods - 50 pharmacies were visited by students of Unifenas. Each student was verified if the pharmacist was present requesting the attendance for the same or for its substitute. After this procedure, it was requested to the same ones, treatment for a simulated throat infection. It was registered, when assisted, the type of suitable medicament, who indicated, orientation of the time of treatment, doses, interval among the doses, and indication of search of medical help.
Results - of the total of visited establishments 64% had the presence of the pharmacist in the moment of the "consultation" and 36% didn't. 84,8% of the establishments indicated the requested treatment and just 15,2% indicated search of medical help. Interesting to observe that all the search indications to the medical attendance were made by the pharmaceutical professional and not for the clerk. 54% of the indications were of antibiotic, 38% of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and 8% of anti-inflammatory. Of all the prescriptions, just 14% were totally corrects.
Conclusion - The present work verified a high index of prescriptions for professionals enabled for such and lay, as well as the irresponsibility of those prescriptions. The results suggest the need of the development of information campaigns and the public's understanding, that the preventive medicine certainly could carry out paper-key.