Análise sobre o conhecimento de acadêmicos em Farmácia acerca da Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (ATS)

Abstract

Health technologies are indispensable for the entire health system, however, it has become a challenge to balance the need for a sustainable health system when considering limited economic resources and the population's constant need for new technologies. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has become a vital tool to help managers in decision making, providing all the technical subsidies about the technology in demand, including scientific evidence on safety, efficacy, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and other aspects. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of pharmacy students from the Pharmacy course of the Federal University of Ceará about Health Technology Assessment. For this work, an online questionnaire was used to collect the student's academic data, as well as the student's previous knowledge and the approach to the subject in the university. The results obtained revealed the majority participation of final semester students, and most of the participating undergraduate students considered their knowledge reasonable, and pointed out that the theme was rarely or occasionally taught at the institution. The students' poor knowledge was reflected in the questions asked, so that the answers obtained were unsatisfactory. In view of the panorama obtained, the importance of improving knowledge in Health Technology Assessment in the Pharmacy course is highlighted, and it is necessary that students are prepared, as future pharmaceutical professionals, to consider and know how to synthesize clinical, organizational, economic, and patient aspects, whether in the public health system or at the pharmacy counter, in order to maximize health benefits to the assisted population.