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Community Update 11Community Update 11
Community Update was formerly known as Community e.news.
December 2007
Keep up-to-date with community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) initiatives.
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) and other organisations actively engage with the community to encourage the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). QUM advocates selecting management options wisely, choosing suitable medicines if they are considered necessary, and using medicines safely and effectively. QUM is a central objective of Australia's National Medicines Policy.
If you would like to reproduce Community e-news information and articles please contact us.
In this edition:
News
- Campaign generates increase in resource orders
- Aboriginal Health Workers rate Medicines List
- Exercise is essential for people with diabetes
- Holiday medicines tips
Upcoming Events
Latest publications
Free information
News
Campaign generates increase in resource orders
The recent NPS National Awareness Campaign generated a significant increase in NPS resource orders (see chart below) due to community sector and health professionals' support.
The most popular resources were the Medicines Line fridge magnets and Medicines Lists, followed by the newly introduced fact sheets (in particular 'Generic medicines').
The fact sheets are a joint Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) and NPS publication produced for the Get to know your medicines campaign and other Community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) initiatives. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to undertake the Community QUM programs in collaboration with CHF.
The Coeliac Society of NSW is including the fact sheet titled 'Using the internet to find reliable health information' in their quarterly magazine and on their website as a resource for their members. The Society heard about the fact sheets through their CHF membership.
If you would like more information about consumer organisations involved with QUM, contact Emma Awizen, CHF Member Services Manager e.awizen@chf.org.au.
If your organisation is interested in placing any of the factsheets or other NPS resources in your newsletters or on your websites, or would like more information about the national awareness campaigns, contact us.
Aboriginal Health Workers rate Medicines List
NPS Medicines List is a "good" consumer Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) resource because it is a practical tool for managing medicines, especially for people with chronic diseases and parents of young children, according to Aboriginal Health Workers. Medicines List received the positive rating during a recent NPS review of medicine resources. Coinciding with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Good Medicines Better Health project, the review determined culturally appropriate and evidence-based resources that Aboriginal Health Workers could give their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.
As part of the review, NPS identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander targeted resources and non Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander targeted resources for consumers living with hypertension, diabetes and asthma.
Using a consumer resource review tool, developed in collaboration with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA) and NPS Curriculum and Training (CAT) team, 26 resources including 12 NPS resources were identified.
For more details about the resources and reviewing tool, contact us.
For more information, go to the Good Medicine Better Health pilot project web page, or contact Dr Meg Stuart: mstuart@nps.org.au.
Exercise is essential for people with diabetes
Regular exercise is safe, effective and essential in managing diabetes and its complications, according to a recent article published in Australian Prescriber.
"Prescribing exercise should be considered one of the essential components of diabetes care. Unfortunately, it is still largely underused," Author of the Australian Prescriber article and exercise physiologist Bronwyn Penny of Diabetes Australia-NSW says.
To read the full Australian Prescriber article, go to the Australian Prescriber website.
Holiday medicines tips
During the Christmas holidays, many people may visit the beach and/or travel locally and overseas, making it difficult to store and buy medicines safely.
When travelling with medicines, NPS advises:
- Heat and sunlight can cause your medicines to deteriorate, resulting in them being less effective. Keep medicines cool and away from sunlight by putting them in a bag when travelling
- In parts of Asia, Africa and South America prescription medicine may be counterfeit, which can cause problems with toxicity and efficacy.
A trip to the beach, however, can pose more than a medicine storage risk. Blue bottle stings can also be a problem. However, there is a simple treatment: warm water.
Click here for more information about travelling with medicines and treating sea creature stings.
Upcoming Events
National Medicines Symposium — call for abstracts
NPS invites abstract submissions for the National Medicines Symposium (NMS) to be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 May 2008 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
The symposium is the fifth biennial symposium focusing on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). It brings together international and national experts, consumers, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, policymakers, project and program coordinators, NPS facilitators, researchers and academics, the pharmaceutical industry, government departments, health organisations and medical writers to debate and discuss Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in Australia and overseas.
The theme for 2008:
Quality Use of Medicines. What does it really mean for you? The science, the policy and the practice.
Latest publications
Medicine Update
A publication for consumers, each edition of Medicine Update reviews a medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It highlights important information about how the medicine is used, how it compares with other treatments, and safety. Due for release in January 2008, the next three issues review alendronate (Fosamax, Fosamax Plus, and Alendro), which is used to prevent osteoporosis; fluticasone with salmeterol (Seretide), which is used to treat COPD; and varenicline (Champix), the new smoking cessation drug.
For email notification of these and other issues, complete this form.
MedicinesTalk
A quarterly consumer newsletter, the Spring and Summer editions of the MedicinesTalk are now available online and in print.
In the Spring edition:
- What to do about the side effects of medicines
- Complementary and alternative medicines
- The testing processes that precede the release of new medicines
In the Summer edition:
- Hints for assisting people who have difficulty swallowing medicines
- Tips for keeping your medicines cool when on holidays
- The difficulties Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities encounter when accessing medicines
MedicinesTalk can be downloaded for free from here.
To order multiple free copies of MedicinesTalk and other free NPS information and resources, go to our online catalogue.
Free information
Download a summary of resources and order form
To view and order NPS's extensive range of medicines information resources, go to NPS website catalogue.
Follow these links to subscribe or to unsubscribe.
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines. We provide accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to help people choose if, when and how to use medicines to improve their health and wellbeing. We are member-based and work in partnership with health professionals, government, pharmaceutical industry and consumers. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Date published: 2007-12-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
