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Community Update 3Community Update 3

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Community Update was formerly known as Community e.news.

May 2005

Welcome to May NPS Community e.news

NPS Community e.news is an e.publication for consumers and community groups interested and involved in the NPS Community QUM Program. We hope that this newsletter will keep you up to date with the program activities and what others are doing to promote quality use of medicines within their community. To subscribe or unsubscribe to NPS Community e.news, contact info@nps.org.au.

In this edition

2005 common colds campaign:
Common colds need common sense, they don't need antibiotics

22% of Australians incorrectly believe that antibiotics can treat a common cold. Even though there is continuing reduction in the prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (such as common colds) in Australia, there is still a need to continue this downward trend.

NPS's common colds need common sense campaign will run for its fifth year from May-July 2005. Campaign messages include:

  • Common colds need common sense, they don't need antibiotics
  • Common colds are caused by viruses and usually get better on their own in 5–7 days
  • Antibiotics won't help your cold get better faster, won't stop your cold from getting worse and won't stop a cold from spreading to others
  • To manage your cold you should take it easy, relieve your symptoms and see your doctor or pharmacist if it gets worse.

This year's campaign targets parents and carers of small children and the general adult population. A new suite of resources will be available to general practices, pharmacies, childcare agencies, non-government community organisations and the media.

Harvey the wombat covering his nose as he sneezes

Harvey the wombat is the newest initiative, showing parents and carers how to beat their children's colds without using antibiotics. Harvey catches a cold is a fun and engaging book that portrays Harvey resting, keeping his fluids up and treating his symptoms with the help of his family. It shows that colds get better on their own after 5–7 days and has a message for parents and carers on the back cover.

 

The book and other new resources tested positively in consumer research and were considered to:

 

  • Reinforce and build on any existing appropriate attitudes toward the treatment of common colds
  • Increase parent, carer and patient knowledge about the role of antibiotics in treating common colds
  • Make parents/carers rethink their current approach to treating their child's colds.

Harvey catches a cold will be available in childcare centres, doctors' surgeries and online at www.gottacold.com, along with all the other campaign resources. Parents are being advised to see their doctor if they are concerned about their child's health.

For more information, contact us.

Get to Know Your Medicines Kit

The Get to Know Your Medicines Kit was launched at the 8th National Rural Health Conference by NPS. The kit assists with the running of community activities to help people better understand their medicines.

NPS distributed 112 kits at the conference. People who collected a Kit included consumers who have never run activities before, nurses who think the Kit will help them with their community work and scholarship students undertaking placement in rural areas who want to use the Kit on their next community visit.

The Kit includes:

  • A guide to help organise and plan an activity
  • A guide to help promote the activity to encourage people to attend
  • A 24-slide presentation covering the things you and your community need to know and understand about medicines
  • A guide to help you collect feedback, including forms for people attending your activities to complete.

If you are interested in learning about your medicines and helping your community to understand theirs, you can run local activities using the Kit. You can order a free boxed Kit or a CD version at www.nps.org.au/consumers or by calling NPS on 02 82178700.

NPS developed the Get to Know Your Medicines Kit in collaboration with Consumers' Health Forum of Australia, National Rural Health Alliance and Health Consumers of Rural and Remote Australia.

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Bilingual Medimate

Following the official launch by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbot MP, earlier this year, bilingual versions of Medimate are now available for consumers.

Medimate is a free practical guide that will help consumers find, understand and use information about medicines more effectively. Medimate is a valuable resource and it is now available in Italian, Greek, Chinese, Vietnamese and English.

To make sure medicines are used appropriately, Medimate advises people to ask their doctor and pharmacist questions about their medicines and tell them about their current health conditions and all medicines that they are taking.

To order free copies of Medimate, click here.

MedicinesTalk

The latest issue of MedicinesTalk is now available. This issue provides consumers with information and advice on running a medicines information session in the bush, covers the questions you may be asked in pharmacies and the reason they are asked and also looks at the way media represents the risks and benefits of medicines.

MedicinesTalk is produced by consumers, for consumers to encourage and promote Quality Use of Medicines (QUM), especially among people who use multiple medicines.

You can read MedicinesTalk for consumer-friendly information plus news and stories about medicines by clicking here. To sign up to receive MedicinesTalk, visit our online ordering system by clicking here.

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NPS Medicines Line

During the six months from July to December 2004, Medicines Line staff answered a total of 7,732 calls. This represents an increase of 37.8% on the previous six months. 97.2% of the calls resulted in a communication between the caller and a pharmacist, while the remainder of callers requested a CMI leaflet.

Medicines Line provides consumers with independent information on medicines. For more information on Medicines Line visit www.nps.org.au/consumers.

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25th Anniversary FECCA Congress: Regional Australia- The Way Forward

NPS is profiling its multicultural and consumer resources at the 25th Anniversary FECCA Congress in Wollongong on 26-28 May 2005. FECCA is a partner in the Multicultural Community QUM Program.

For more information on the congress, visit www.fecca.org.au.

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Rural Project Scheme - Latest activities

In 2004, community groups across Australia were invited to apply for grants to assist them in developing consumer-focused ways to progress QUM in local regions. A total of 16 grants have been awarded.

The following launches have taken place since the last edition of Community e.news:

  • Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services: PEP - Pills Education Program. The project was launched at the University of Tasmania in Hobart on 8 April. The project involves 10 communities in Tasmania, and will raise awareness of issues relating to medicines. The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services is working with the University of Tasmania School of Pharmacy on this project.
  • Marree Health Service launched their project on 13 April 2005. The project aims to provide information and support to help ensure the safe use of medicines by providing access to a pharmacist at community sessions.

More launches are planned across the country in the coming months. For more information on the Rural Project Scheme activities, click here.

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Seniors QUM Program

NPS and COTA National Seniors are continuing to run interactive peer education sessions to help seniors across Australia get to know their medicines. The sessions cover how to get better results from your medicines, how to avoid medicines mix-ups, what to do to enjoy better health and advice on finding reliable information on medicines.

If you know of community groups and seniors' organisations or groups that may be interested in participating in a medicines information session with a peer educator, please encourage them to contact their COTA National Seniors state or territory office.

To find out how to book a session, click here.

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) online

The CMI database went "live" on the NPS website in March 2005. The database holds approximately 760 CMI leaflets on prescription and many non-prescription medicines that are easy to understand and written for consumers.

Developed by NPS to a precise set of specifications, the database has been rigorously tested to meet the needs of consumers. The website has a facility allowing consumers to search efficiently by either the generic drug name or the brand name. For CMI's not available on the database, consumers can submit an online request form directly to Medicines Line for follow-up by a pharmacist.

As well as being available on the NPS website, CMI leaflets are available from GPs, pharmacists by calling Medicines Line or by contacting the company who makes the medicine.

To view the CMI database, click here.

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Community QUM Management Committee

Diane Walsh has been appointed to the Community QUM Management Committee in place of Sue Pluck, who recently stepped down. NPS would like to welcome Diane on board and congratulate her on this appointment. Diane attended her first committee meeting on 29 April.

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Community QUM Program news

Hannah Baird has been appointed as the Community QUM Program manager.
NPS is currently seeking a new program officer to fill the vacancy left by Hannah's appointment.

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Subscribe or unsubscribe

Follow these links to subscribe or unsubscribe to NPS Community e.news. 

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Date published: 2005-05-01 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.