Clinical Services Provided by Pharmacists in Primary Health Care in Latin America: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Objective To map and characterise evidence on pharmacist‐provided clinical services in primary health care in Latin America, including service types, practice settings, study designs, team integration, populations, outcomes, and equity‐related dimensions. Methods This scoping review followed JBI methodological guidance and PRISMA‐ScR. Bibliographic databases and grey literature sources were searched without language or publication date restrictions according to a prospectively registered protocol. Two reviewers independently screened records and charted data. Multiple classifications per study were permitted when applicable. Findings were synthesised descriptively and narratively. Results We included 134 studies from six countries, 107 of which were conducted in Brazil. Among 140 study‐design classifications, randomised controlled trials ( n = 26), cross‐sectional studies ( n = 23), mixed‐methods studies ( n = 21), and qualitative studies ( n = 20) predominated. Among 137 study‐setting classifications, primary health care units ( n = 80) and community pharmacies linked to primary care ( n = 29) were most frequent. The 168 study‐service entries most commonly represented pharmacotherapeutic follow‐up ( n = 54), health education ( n = 35), medication review ( n = 20), and clinically oriented dispensing ( n = 19); seven could not be clearly classified. Service, process, or management indicators accounted for 87 of 182 study‐outcome classifications. Among 136 team‐integration entries, referral‐based ( n = 54) and isolated ( n = 35) models predominated. Only 26 studies reported an equity‐related variable. Conclusions Most of the mapped studies were conducted in Brazilian primary health care settings, with comparatively few studies from other Latin American countries. Future research should examine service integration, equity, economic outcomes, and sustainability across diverse health‐system contexts in the region.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
Published
2026-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.70628
Primary Topic
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Clinical Services Provided by Pharmacists in Primary Health Care in Latin America: A Scoping Review

Guacira Corrêa de Matos, Vanessa Souza Mendonça, Luís Phillipe Nagem Lopes, Lívia Ribeiro Gomes et al.
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
article

Clinical Services Provided by Pharmacists in Primary Health Care in Latin America: A Scoping Review

Guacira Corrêa de Matos, Vanessa Souza Mendonça, Luís Phillipe Nagem Lopes, Lívia Ribeiro Gomes, Cesar A. TEIXEIRA, Alice Ramos Oliveira Silva, Elisângela da Costa Lima, C Valerio, Beatriz Freires do Nascimento, Yasmin Silva de Souza Barrozo, Fernanda Torres
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To map and characterise evidence on pharmacist‐provided clinical services in primary health care in Latin America, including service types, practice settings, study designs, team integration, populations, outcomes, and equity‐related dimensions. Methods This scoping review followed JBI methodological guidance and PRISMA‐ScR. Bibliographic databases and grey literature sources were searched without language or publication date restrictions according to a prospectively registered protocol. Two reviewers independently screened records and charted data. Multiple classifications per study were permitted when applicable. Findings were synthesised descriptively and narratively. Results We included 134 studies from six countries, 107 of which were conducted in Brazil. Among 140 study‐design classifications, randomised controlled trials ( n = 26), cross‐sectional studies ( n = 23), mixed‐methods studies ( n = 21), and qualitative studies ( n = 20) predominated. Among 137 study‐setting classifications, primary health care units ( n = 80) and community pharmacies linked to primary care ( n = 29) were most frequent. The 168 study‐service entries most commonly represented pharmacotherapeutic follow‐up ( n = 54), health education ( n = 35), medication review ( n = 20), and clinically oriented dispensing ( n = 19); seven could not be clearly classified. Service, process, or management indicators accounted for 87 of 182 study‐outcome classifications. Among 136 team‐integration entries, referral‐based ( n = 54) and isolated ( n = 35) models predominated. Only 26 studies reported an equity‐related variable. Conclusions Most of the mapped studies were conducted in Brazilian primary health care settings, with comparatively few studies from other Latin American countries. Future research should examine service integration, equity, economic outcomes, and sustainability across diverse health‐system contexts in the region.

Journal of Evaluation in Clinical PracticeVol. 32(8)
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Pharmacy and Medical Practices
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon