Document resource
Background and Importance Dysphagia units are multidisciplinary teams aimed at optimising the care of patients with swallowing disorders. However, the presence and role of the hospital pharmacist within these teams have been scarcely described in the literature, and little is known about their specific interventions.Aim and Objectives To describe the activities carried out by the hospital pharmacist within a multidisciplinary dysphagia unit.Material and Methods A descriptive observational study was conducted to characterise the activities of the hospital pharmacist within a multidisciplinary dysphagia unit. The unit was established in 2021 and integrated the hospital pharmacist from its inception. Data were collected from institutional records, internal documentation, and activity logs of the unit. Both qualitative information (type of interventions, role within the team) and quantitative data (number of courses delivered, participants trained, and case consultations resolved) were analysed. Activities were classified into four domains: education and training, development of guidance tools, case-based consultations, and therapeutic optimisation in polymedicated patients with dysphagia.Results The hospital pharmacist participated in four key activities within the dysphagia unit:Training: Design and delivery of educational sessions focused on drug administration and nutritional management in dysphagia, including 8 training courses, with a total of 156 participants.Development of guidance tools: Elaboration of a medication management guideline, integrated into electronic prescribing systems and nursing administration planning with 987 drugs reviewed.Case consultations: Resolution of specific clinical queries related to nutrition and medication in dysphagic patients.Therapeutic optimisation: Review and optimisation of treatment regimens in polymedicated patients with dysphagia, based on individualised clinical cases.Conclusion and Relevance The integration of the hospital pharmacist into the dysphagia unit highlights the clinical and educational relevance of pharmaceutical interventions in the multidisciplinary management of dysphagia. The pharmacist contributes to improved medication safety, nutrition management, and therapeutic optimisation, reinforcing the value of including pharmacy services in these specialised units.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest