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Community Update 6Community Update 6
Community Update was formerly known as Community e.news.
February 2006
Community e.news is a regular NPS newsletter, keeping consumers and community organisations updated on what NPS and others are doing to promote quality use of medicines (QUM) in the community
In this edition:
Top stories
NPS Activity
- Common colds need common sense, they don't need antibiotics campaign
- Seeking consumer views on generic medicines
- Multicultural groups input to NPS planning
- Community QUM program team grows
Upcoming events
- 7-9 June 2006: National Medicines Symposium in Canberra
- Enter the 2006 National QUM Awards by 6 April
Publications
Top stories
Consumers say Medicines Line is a good call
Our recent survey of Medicines Line callers revealed strong support for our phone service that gives consumers independent medicines information.
93% of callers had 'a lot' of confidence and trust in the information given by Medicines Line's qualified pharmacists, with 97% likely to recommend Medicines Line to others, and 92% 'very likely' or 'likely' to use it in the future.
The survey aimed to evaluate the service, the value of information provided to callers and any changes in therapeutic knowledge and management.
During 2004 and 2005, the most common Medicines Line enquiries were about side effects (or adverse drug reactions), followed by drug interactions. Antidepressants and antihypertensives were the most frequently queried therapeutic drug classes.
Just under half of the 1,048 callers in a 4-week period responded to our survey.
You can call Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the cost of a local call (mobile calls may cost more).
At other times you can leave a message and Medicines Line staff will return your call. Whilst qualified pharmacists provide general information, consumers are advised to see their doctor for individual advice.
NPS Activity
Common colds need common sense, they don't need antibiotics campaign
The main target group for this campaign, mothers of children aged 2 – 5, had double the awareness of this campaign than that of the general community (43.0% to 19.5%), our 2005 evaluation results revealed.
Results from child care organisations who participated in the evaluation indicate that
- brochures were the most used resource (98% of respondents), followed closely by the children's storybook, Harvey catches a cold (94%) and the stickers (84%)
- they considered the resources to be of great value and very credible in providing information about colds and flu.
Planning is underway for the 2006 campaign which will again focus on parents and carers of young children. We have been consulting with peak children's services and external organisations to develop strategies.
Seeking consumer views on generic medicines
In response to increasing availability of generic medicines, NPS is gathering a range of consumer issues.
Our initial work reveals that generic medicines issues for consumers are more complex than simply than ensuring the same effect by the same active ingredient.
For example, one anecdote raised by consumers is the relationship between the consumer and their doctor. Some consumers are concerned that their doctor may view their switching to a generic as 'not following their rules' and therefore some consumers are reluctant to risk their relationship. Positive cues and 'permission' to use generics may help in this example.
Another issue is consumer knowledge of the differences between brand names and generic names or active ingredients. While the brand name is often easier to pronounce, consumers need to know the active ingredient to distinguish a generic from a brand.
We are seeking and gathering consumer views on generic medicines in a number of ways:
- Community engagements. Consumers' Health Forum of Australia (CHF), our Community QUM program partner, is consulting at community engagements.
- Seniors peer educators are sending us issues raised in health information sessions.
- Multicultural community views provided in developmental research have been reviewed.
- A consumer forum to identify key issues will occur in February 2006. This is organised by CHF in conjunction with NPS — invitation only.
- A stakeholder reference group meeting, hosted by NPS, will be held in April 2006 with consumer groups — invitation only.
- Direct feedback to NPS.
Multicultural groups input to NPS planning
Community leaders from multicultural community organisations, service providers, academia and consumers joined in the first planning meeting to input to the strategic direction of our QUM program for multicultural communities.
The session was held in Canberra on 12 October 2005 and was hosted by Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) in partnership with NPS.
Participants were provided an overview of FECCA, NPS and the program's achievements. They commented on the program's strengths, highlighted issues for the future, provided recommendations to the strategic framework and segmented multicultural communities into groups. These included recent arrivals, longer term settlement groups, larger groups, and at-risk communities.
An ongoing commitment was gained to seeking stakeholder expertise, community knowledge and consumer views.
Overall, participants were satisfied with the work to date, especially the best-practice approach to resource development and means for consulting with communities.
Community QUM program team grows
Brenda Currie has recently joined Hannah Baird (team leader), Jennifer Davis, Margaret Artist, Katherine Vaughan and Amanda Justice in the Community QUM team.
Brenda brings a variety of experience and knowledge to her new role at NPS with experience in community health, the GP sector, health promotion, evaluation, patient information and project and arts event management and qualifications in workplace training and economics. Brenda previously worked at Sydney West Area Health Service and in the UK. Brenda will be working on the Seniors QUM program.
Upcoming events
7-9 June 2006: National Medicines Symposium in Canberra
The biennial National Medicines Symposium on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) will be held Wednesday to Friday, 7 – 9 June 2006, at the Canberra Convention Centre.
On the theme of Balancing Beliefs, Benefits and Harms international and Australian experts, health professionals, consumers, policy makers, project and program coordinators, researchers and academics, the pharmaceutical industry, government departments, health organisations and medical writers will come together to consider issues such as:
- Ethics vs health beliefs debate: Is it unethical to ignore QUM?
- Balancing beliefs and behaviours: US, European and Australian perspectives
- Balancing benefits and harms: regulatory and consumer perspectives
- Balancing systems and settings: mental health and aged care perspectives.
Enter the 2006 National QUM Awards by 6 April
Have you considered entering the National QUM Awards 2006?
Celebrating excellence in the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM), these biennial awards recognise the originators of QUM work and the contribution of health professionals, the community, students, consumers, pharmaceutical companies, government, the health industry and the media in achieving better use of medicines.
This year there are 6 categories:
- Health Professional QUM Award
- Community QUM Award
- Health Industry QUM Award
- Media QUM Award
- Student QUM Award, and
- NMS Poster Presentation Award.
The awards will be presented at the National Medicines Symposium 2006 dinner at Parliament House, Canberra on Thursday 8 June 2006.
NPS Publications
MedicinesTalk out now
The summer issue of MedicinesTalk is out now, giving consumer's tips and useful information on children and medicines. Of the 18,000 children treated annually for poisoning, medicines are estimated to be the cause in 70% of cases.
This edition also profiles medicines stories from the Yolngu people of Australia's 'top end', and the initiative between NPS and NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) to train Aboriginal Health Workers in QUM.
MedicinesTalk is produced by consumers for consumers to encourage and promote Quality Use of Medicines, especially among people who use multiple medicines.
Feel free to subscribe to, use and pass on the stories in MedicinesTalk to other consumers and consumer organisations seeking to know more about their medicines.
To subscribe or unsubscribe
Follow the link to subscribe or to unsubscribe.
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is a member-based organisation providing accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to health professionals and the community on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). To achieve this we work in partnership with GPs, pharmacists, specialists, other health professionals, government, pharmaceutical industry, consumer organisations and the community. NPS is an independent, non-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Date published: 2006-02-01 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.
