GIPAMED Study: Validation of a Notification Grid for Pharmaceutical
Self-Medication Interventions

Chantal Savanovitch*, Celine Prunet-Spano, Olivier Catala, Sabrina Bedhomme, Elodie Lafarge, Bruno Pereira, Ritta Abboud, Guy Vaganay, Brigitte Venna

Self-medication can present risks that can result in pharmacists carrying out pharmaceutical interventions (PI). Aim: (i) create a PI notification grid adapted to self-medication (ii) validate it and (iii) analyze the reasons for PIs generated by spontaneous requests frompatients in community pharmacies. Method: the study was conducted in 140 community pharmacies in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region for3 non-consecutive weeks in 2017 and 2018. Each PI has been notified using a standardized and specifically developed grid. The validity of theinternal and external structure of the grid was assessed. Results: 1519 self- medicated PIs were reported. The notification grid was validatedwith a near perfect match (kappa coefficient 0.94). Overall, the community pharmacists found it to be comprehensive, useful, clear and easyto use. Four ATC classes accounted for nearly 80% of the PIs (respiratory system, nervous system, muscle and skeleton, digestive tract and metabolism).Almost 1/3 of the PIs were generated by requests for prescription-only medicines, followed by optional prescription medicines notindicated for symptomatology and those contraindicated with the pathophysiological status. In most instances, the community pharmacistproposed a therapeutic alternative and/or referred for medical consultation; the proposed solution was accepted in more than 90% of cases.Conclusion: The GIPAMED study facilitated the creation and validation of a specific notification grid for self-medication PIs. It also raises thequestion of the level of risk avoided through the intervention of the community pharmacist