Evaluación de los conocimientos de médicos y farmacéuticos sobre uso seguro de medicamentos durante la lactancia materna, San Carlos, 2024

If healthcare professionals lack the tools providing updated knowledge on drug use during breastfeeding, their clinical guidelines may differ from government actions aimed at supporting and preserving breastfeeding; hence the need to evaluate their competencies. The objective of the research was to assess the level of knowledge and reported practices regarding drug management during breastfeeding among physicians and pharmacists. Methodologically, a study with a quantitative approach, non-experimental, cross-sectional design, and descriptive scope was developed in the municipality of San Carlos, surveying the technical criteria of 13 physicians and 12 pharmacists from the private sector through a validated questionnaire. The instrument classified knowledge into four categories: Excellent (22-25 points), Good (17-21 points), Insufficient (12-16 points), and Very insufficient (<12 points). The results showed that 100% of the evaluated professionals scored within the very insufficient or insufficient knowledge ranges. This trend is linked to the predominant use of outdated information sources, such as commercial package inserts, and scarce undergraduate and postgraduate training on the subject. Consequently, restrictive practices were detected, such as the erroneous classification of compatible medications as non-compatible, recommending the substitution of breastfeeding with formulas, and omitting essential clinical criteria such as the infant's age or medical condition. It is concluded that the current state of knowledge among the evaluated professionals poses a critical challenge for the sustainability of local breastfeeding. Being the primary point of consultation, it is imperative to strengthen their continuous training to ensure clinical decisions are aligned with updated scientific evidence.