Abstract
ABSTRACT
Rationale
Pharmaceutical dispensing constitutes a fundamental clinical activity for promoting the rational use of medicines and patient safety. However, the lack of structured and validated instruments can contribute to non‐standardised practices, impacting the quality of care and the effectiveness of the interventions performed.
Aims
To develop and validate the content of a clinical guide to support pharmaceutical dispensing practice.
Methods
A two‐stage methodological study. Initially, the structure of the guide was draughted based on a dispensing algorithm described in the literature and adapted through a focus group comprising 14 professionals, including pharmacists and expert researchers. In the second stage, the content was validated using the Delphi Technique. The items were evaluated for representativeness, clarity, objectivity and precision, and the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated.
Results
In the first round, most items presented a satisfactory CVI, with point adjustments needed in two sections of the guide. The main suggestions involved greater organization into a checklist format and language simplification to favour practical applicability. After the adjustments, the second round achieved full consensus among the experts, confirming the instrument's validity.
Discussion
The participatory construction process and the Delphi Technique contributed to the refinement of the guide. Incorporating the experts' suggestions reinforced the importance of usability and standardization as key elements for dispensing support tools. The instrument shows potential to qualify care, reduce practice variability, and support the pharmacist's clinical reasoning. The guide demonstrated content validity and consensus among experts, proving to be a structured tool applicable to pharmaceutical dispensing practice.