THE PHARMACEUTICAL PROFESSION UNDER THE PERSPECTIVE OF STUDENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL IN SAMAMBAIA, BRASÍLIA, DF, BRAZIL

Abstract

The undergraduate courses of Pharmacy in Brazil allow insertion in the market of a professional with generalist characteristics who dominates the composition and production of medicines, food, and cosmetics, can provide pharmaceutical assistance, and receives training in clinical and toxicological analyzes, including humanistic, ethical, technical and scientific profile. Despite the complex and important rule of this professional in the health area, beginner’s pharmacy students are mostly unaware of most of the areas that the pharmacist can be. Thus, the present study aimed to apply an active methodology for the dissemination of knowledge about the pharmaceutical profession. Therefore, a study was conducted with 24 high school students in Samambaia – DF. A questionnaire was applied to the volunteers before the exposure of audiovisual material containing interviews, texts, and images about the pharmaceutical profession, and another questionnaire was applied after this exhibition. The first questionnaire evaluated the volunteer’s profile, expectations of acting in the professional market and interest in the health area. The second questionnaire estimated the appropriation of knowledge about the pharmaceutical profession and interest in Pharmacy. The study allowed to measure the interest in the graduation in Pharmacy of higher school students and evidenced the lack of knowledge of the importance of the pharmacist for the health of the community.