Criteria used in clinical practice guidelines for the management of pharmaceutical service

Abstract Little is known about the perception of healthcare professionals working in the management of the Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Service (Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica - CEAF) regarding the clearness of the clinical practice guidelines (protocolos clínicos e diretrizes terapêuticas - PCDT) related to the inclusion and exclusion of patients and the discontinuation of medicines. Thus, the present study used a mixed-methods approach, with a quantitative phase to assess the objectivity of the criteria established in the PCDT, published from 2012 to 2022, and a qualitative phase through a focus group with healthcare professionals working in CEAF management. The 36 PCDTs analyzed in our study covered 1,972 criteria, of which 57.1% were objective. The thematic analysis of the focus group discourse indicated that the criteria, due to ambiguity and lack of clarity, have different interpretations, leading to inequality of access and compromising the principles of the SUS, especially equity. Improvements were suggested, including summarized versions of PCDTs, a version for pharmaceutical service management tasks, an additional document presenting the criteria clearly and objectively, exams, and information to verify the criteria.